Scioto County voters will head to the polls on May 5, 2026, for the primary election — and this one carry extra weight after a year marked by tragedy, scandal, and big changes in county leadership.
If you’ve been confused by who’s running, which seats are open, or what all of this means, you’re not alone. Here’s the simple breakdown.
Two Commissioner Seats Are on the Ballot — and Both Are Huge
👉 Seat #1:
The Coleman Seat (Commissioner Jan. 2 – Unexpired Term)
This is the seat left vacant after longtime Commissioner Cathy Coleman was killed in a car crash last spring.
Current commissioner Merit Smith was appointed to fill the remainder of her term — and now he’s running to keep it.
He’s facing:
- Adrian Harrison (R)
- Ryan Munion (no party listed)
Whoever wins this primary will appear on the November ballot.
👉 Seat #2:
The Bryan Davis Seat (Commissioner Jan. 1)
This is the seat tied to the ongoing corruption case.
Commissioner Bryan Davis is currently on paid leave after being indicted, and the Republican Central Committee appointed Steven “Will” Mault as his temporary replacement.
Now Mault is officially running for the job — along with:
- Yvonne Hale (R)
- Nate Hoover (R)
- Jim Turner (R)
- Abby Spears (D)
Important note:
Bryan Davis is not on the ballot.
If his charges were dismissed or he were found not guilty, he could return to finish his current term. But if he wanted to run again in November, he’d have to do so as a write-in candidate.
In other words: once the primary happens, this race moves forward with or without him.
County Auditor Race Is Another Hot Spot
There’s also a crowded race for Scioto County Auditor, with multiple Republican candidates plus one Democrat:
- Christopher Blackburn (R)
- Annetta Newman (R)
- Matt Seifert (R)
- Mark Ward (R)
- Tricia Eichenlaub (D)
Expect this one to get competitive as well.
A Lot of Races Have No One Running — or Only One Person
Here’s something that may surprise you:
Several local and party positions currently show no candidates at all, including:
- Democratic State Central Committee (Man & Woman – 14th District)
- Republican State Central Committee (Man & Woman – 14th District)
- Some judicial and party seats
And many other offices are effectively decided already, because only one person filed.
That means in several races, whoever signed up automatically advances to November — no primary contest needed.
What Are Central Committees, Anyway?
Since they’ve played such a big role lately, here’s a quick explainer:
Republican and Democratic Central Committees are groups of party members elected locally. Their biggest power comes into play when:
- An elected official dies
- Resigns
- Or is suspended
That’s how:
- Merit Smith was appointed after Cathy Coleman’s death
- Will Mault was appointed after Bryan Davis went on paid leave
These committees don’t replace voters long-term — they just fill gaps until the next election.
Why the May 2026 Primary Matters
The primary decides who appears on the November ballot.
So while November gets the headlines, May is where most of the real choices are made — especially in heavily Republican counties like Scioto.
With:
- Two commissioner seats in flux
- A major corruption case still unresolved
- A crowded auditor’s race
- And dozens of uncontested or vacant offices
…this election will help shape Scioto County’s future for years to come.
Bottom line:
If you care who runs your county — vote in the primary on May 5, 2026.
This is where it starts.
