Who is running for Ohio Senate, District 9 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Ohio Senate, District 9 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Ohio Senate District 9.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Linda D. MatthewsRepublican | Catherine IngramDemocrat |
|---|---|---|
| Business regulation | Cut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental rulesSaid · low | No public position |
| Abortion | Illegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestSaid · low | No public position |
| Guns | Keep current laws and enforce what is already on the booksSaid · low | Add universal background checks and red-flag lawsOfficial action · medium |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familySaid · medium | No public position |
| Housing and growth | Allow some growth with strict density limitsSaid · low | No public position |
| Policing and crime | More police, with a focus on repeat offendersSaid · low | No public position |
| Marijuana | No public position | Legalize and regulate it like alcoholSaid · medium |
Linda D. Matthews
RepublicanSmall business owner; Central State University trustee
Linda Matthews is a Republican, lifelong Cincinnatian and former Cincinnati Public Schools science teacher who describes herself as a tech entrepreneur and small business owner1. She is a Xavier University graduate, a Central State University trustee and a Code for Kids board member, and holds the Ohio Republican State Central Committee seat for the 9th Senate District1.
Where they stand 6 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familymedium
Said · medium confidence- Her platform calls for school choice for every family, along with competitive teacher pay and expanded STEM and vocational education. (2026) source
Policing and crimeMore police, with a focus on repeat offenderslow
Said · low confidence- Her platform says to fund police, not defund them, and to fight for competitive pay, better training and resources for law enforcement. (2026) source
AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow
Said · low confidence- Her platform says she stands for the sanctity of human life and policies that protect the most vulnerable. (2026) source
GunsKeep current laws and enforce what is already on the bookslow
Said · low confidence- Her platform says she will defend the Constitution, including the right to bear arms. (2026) source
Business regulationCut red tape, but keep core safety and environmental ruleslow
Said · low confidence- Her platform calls for lower taxes and reduced regulations so small businesses and innovation can thrive. (2026) source
Housing and growthAllow some growth with strict density limitslow
Said · low confidence- Her platform calls for development that respects neighborhood character and trusts local residents to guide growth decisions. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Healthcare, Immigration, Energy and climate, Curriculum and books, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Catherine Ingram
Democrat · IncumbentOhio State Senator, District 9
Catherine D. Ingram is a Democrat who has represented Senate District 9 since January 2023 after three terms in the Ohio House12. She served more than twenty years on the Cincinnati Board of Education, including as president in the mid-1990s, and has worked as a realtor and university instructor1. She holds a bachelor's degree and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati1.
Where they stand 8 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsAdd universal background checks and red-flag lawsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Primary sponsor of Senate Bill 237 to restore local governments' authority to regulate firearms, testifying that it gives communities tools to address gun violence. (2026-06-09) source
- Primary sponsor of Senate Bill 75 to raise the penalty for failing to report a lost or stolen firearm, calling it common-sense legislation. (2026-02-11) source
- Voted no on Senate Bill 215, which lets adults who may legally own a gun carry a concealed handgun without a permit (House vote, 58 to 36). (2022-03-02) source
- Voted no on House Bill 99, which allows school boards to let trained staff carry guns in schools (59 to 33 and 56 to 35). (2022-06-01) source
MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium
Said · medium confidence- After the legislature passed Senate Bill 56, which revised the adult-use marijuana law that voters approved in 2023, said she would not support changes that override the will of Ohio voters and that Ohioans expected reasonable adjustments, not broad changes. (2025-12-10) source
- Voted no on Senate passage of Senate Bill 56 (23 to 9). (2025-02-26) source
Gender care for minorsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on House Bill 68, which bars gender transition treatments such as puberty blockers and hormones for minors and requires school and college sports teams to be designated by sex (24 to 8). (2023-12-13) source
- Voted no on overriding the governor's veto of House Bill 68 (24 to 8). (2024-01-24) source
Transgender athletesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on House Bill 68, which also requires school sports teams to be designated by sex (24 to 8), and no on the veto override (24 to 8). (2024-01-24) source
DEI programsNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on Senate Bill 1, which bars state universities from operating diversity, equity and inclusion offices, required DEI training and DEI-based scholarships (21 to 11 and 20 to 11). (2025-03-26) source
- Voted no on Senate Bill 83, an earlier higher education bill with similar DEI limits (21 to 10). (2023-05-17) source
Election rulesNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on House Bill 458, an elections bill that requires photo identification to vote, changes absentee voting rules and makes other election law changes (House vote, 55 to 34). (2022-12-14) source
- Voted no on Senate Joint Resolution 10, which puts a photo ID requirement for voting into the Ohio Constitution (22 to 9). (2026-06-03) source
Curriculum and booksNo single answer fitslow
Voted · low confidence- Voted no on House Bill 8, the Parents' Bill of Rights, which requires schools to notify parents about instructional material with sexuality content and student health matters and to adopt policies for released time religious instruction (24 to 7). (2024-12-18) source
Ranked-choice votingNo single answer fitslow
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.