The Ballot Brief
Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Ohio Senate District 21

See where Smith and Alterman stand on schools, jobs and the environment. Names follow official Cuyahoga County election filings.

About this race

Kent Smith (Democratic), Mikhail Alterman (Republican) are on the November 3 ballot for Ohio Senate District 21; Kent Smith is the sitting member, per the Ohio Senate's official member directory (ohiosenate.gov). Nominees were chosen at the May 5, 2026 primary or qualified directly for the general ballot. The field is the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list; Ohio prints unopposed candidates rather than deeming them elected. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Kent Smith, is on the ballot.

This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Ohio › Cuyahoga County › Ohio Senate District 21

Kent Smith

Kent Smith

DemocraticIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Grow Ohio's economy through investment in innovation and opportunity for the middle class
  • Increase investment in pre-K, K-12 and higher education and restore local control of school districts
  • Develop Ohio's electric vehicle and renewable energy markets
Biography

Kent Smith is the Democratic candidate for Ohio Senate District 21 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. Kent Smith is a sitting member for the district, per the Ohio Senate's official member directory (ohiosenate.gov). Currently serves in the Ohio House of Representatives in his fourth term and is running for Ohio Senate District 21, per campaign site. Served 12 years on the Euclid Board of Education, per campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Mikhail Alterman

Republican

Biography

Mikhail Alterman is the Republican candidate for Ohio Senate District 21 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's certified 2026 General Election candidate list. A Cleveland Heights-University Heights High School graduate with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering from Case Western Reserve University, per campaign filing coverage. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.

Next on your ballotOhio Senate District 23

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Ohio Senate District 21 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Ohio Senate District 21 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Kent Smith and Mikhail Alterman. Candidate information follows official Cuyahoga County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on schools, jobs and the environment.

When is the Ohio Senate District 21 election in Ohio?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Ohio are on the Ohio election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Cuyahoga County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Cuyahoga County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Ohio election office, or see the full Cuyahoga County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Cuyahoga County ballot

26 tracked races in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Ohio House District 13Ohio House District 14Ohio House District 15See all 26 Cuyahoga County races
Candidate profiles
Kent Smith, full profileMikhail Alterman, full profileOfficial Ohio election office