Democrat David Pepper is running for Ohio lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton in the Nov. 3, 2026, election.
The secretary of state’s ballot directive lists three printed tickets: Democrats Amy Acton and David Pepper, Republicans Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley, and Libertarians Don Kissick and James L. Mills. Governor and lieutenant governor run together; voters choose a ticket. The county’s current certified list also includes qualified write-in tickets.
Experience and public service
The campaign’s biography identifies Pepper as a lawyer and fifth-generation Cincinnatian who served on Cincinnati City Council, as a Hamilton County commissioner and commission president, and as Ohio Democratic Party chairman.
His campaign highlights work on county finances, foreclosure prevention, prescription-drug discounts and an earned income tax credit initiative, along with public safety and economic development during his city council service. These descriptions of his record are attributed to the campaign.
On the issues
The following are proposals from the Acton-Pepper campaign’s current platform.
Family costs: The campaign’s tax plan includes an earned income credit and annual child credits of $1,000 for children ages 0–6 and $500 for ages 7–18 for families earning up to $85,000. Those figures are proposed benefits, not current entitlements.
Education: The education platform supports the Fair School Funding Plan, tighter oversight of private-school vouchers, investment in literacy and math, workforce training, and free school breakfast and lunch.
Health care: The health plan proposes simpler Medicaid enrollment, an Ohio Rx purchasing platform to lower prescription prices, greater hospital and insurance pricing transparency, stronger surprise-billing enforcement and medical-debt relief.
Workers: The campaign opposes right-to-work legislation and supports collective bargaining and enforcement against wage theft and worker misclassification.
Government ethics: Its reform plan calls for an anti-corruption task force, restrictions on movement between regulators and regulated businesses, additional donor and contractor disclosures, and a public procurement database.
Public safety: The public safety platform supports local law enforcement and first responders, community partnerships, addiction treatment and mental health services.
Reproductive rights: The campaign supports access to abortion, contraception, fertility treatment and miscarriage care.
Data centers: Its current proposal calls for a conditional moratorium until developments cover their utility costs, use union labor, meet environmental and transparency requirements, and locate on brownfields or previously developed industrial sites.
Questionnaire and sources
Pepper did not return this outlet’s questionnaire. The policy proposals above come from the joint campaign’s platform and are not separate proposals for an independently elected lieutenant governor.
