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Person

Kent Smith

Democratic · Ohio State Senator, District 21, since 2023 · cuyahoga County

Work
Worked in the Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office and for nonprofit organizations; co-authored the book Please God Save Us.

Source: ballotpedia.org

Education
High school diploma, Euclid High School, 1984.

Source: ballotpedia.org

Education
B.S., Miami University, 1988.

Source: ballotpedia.org

Education
M.S. in urban studies, 2001, and Ph.D. in economic development, 2009, Cleveland State University.

Source: ballotpedia.org

Ballotpedia · Campaign Website · Official site · Ohio campaign finance

9 of 11 sections researched

25 sources · 2022, 2026 · updated 2026-10-20

Not yet researched: What they have said, checked, Polling and approval.

What has been checked
  • Profile 11 entries
  • On the ballot 1 entry
  • Where they stand 4 entries He has never completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey (checked 2026, 2022, 2020); Ballotpedia recorded only a 2014 website excerpt from his Ohio House run. All four positions are from his current campaign website, fetched September 22, 2026.
  • What they have said, checked None found in the records checked PolitiFact and FactCheck.org searched 2026-09-25: none found Checked: Research lane claims-2026, 2026-09-25
  • Record in office 4 entries Includes the 4 key roll calls of the 136th General Assembly that every sitting legislator on this site gets: final passage of the operating budget, every veto override vote, and the vote placing Issue 3 on the ballot, as taken in their chamber while they served. Checked: legislature.ohio.gov roll calls on House Bill 96 and Senate Joint Resolution 10
  • Money 1 entry Calendar-2026 contributions and expenditures, and cash on hand on the most recent report (filed 2026-06-11), as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. Reports filed after that are not included. Checked: Ohio Secretary of State candidate cover-page export, 2026 reports
  • Financial interests 4 entries
  • Polling and approval None found in the records checked Ballotpedia records no poll for this race as of September 22, 2026. Checked: Ballotpedia's polling section for this race
  • Elections 2 entries Includes the last general election for this seat.
  • Endorsements 8 entries
  • Sources 11 entries
Coverage, by section9 of 11 sections researched.Profile: 11 entriesOn the ballot: 1 entryWhere they stand: 4 entriesWhat they have said, checked: None found in the records checkedRecord in office: 4 entriesMoney: 1 entryFinancial interests: 4 entriesPolling and approval: None found in the records checkedElections: 2 entriesEndorsements: 8 entriesSources: 11 entries9 of 11 sections researched · 25 sources
Coverage, by section9 of 11 sections researched.Source: Cracked Buckeye coverage record for Kent Smith, 9 of 11 sections researched · as of 2026-10-20 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
SectionState
profileresearched
ballotresearched
positionsresearched
claimsnone found
recordresearched
moneyresearched
interestsresearched
pollingnone found
electionsresearched
endorsementsresearched
sourcesresearched

Correct this page · hello@crackedbuckeye.com

No public-domain or Creative Commons photograph is published for this person.
Where they are on the ballotOn the ballot for Ohio State Senator, District 21.Kent Smith: Ohio State Senator, District 21, Democratic
Where they are on the ballotOn the ballot for Ohio State Senator, District 21.Source: Ohio Senate districts of the September 2023 plan (ODOT TIMS) · as of 2026-09-30 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
ChamberDistrictNote
Ohio SenateOhio Senate, Ohio's 21st DistrictOhio State Senator, District 21

On the ballot

The 2026 voting scheduleThe 2026 general election calendar holds 15 dated deadlines from the Secretary of State, from September 18, 2026 to December 11, 2026; Election Day is November 3, 2026.September 18, 2026: Military and overseas absentee voting beginsOctober 5, 2026: Voter registration deadline, 9 p.m.October 6, 2026: Absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting beginOctober 22, 2026: Pre-general campaign finance reports due, 4 p.m.October 27, 2026: Deadline for boards to receive absentee ballot applications, 8:30 p.m.November 1, 2026: Last day of early in-person voting, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.November 2, 2026: No early in-person voting at boards of electionsNovember 3, 2026: Deadline for non-military/overseas absentee ballots to be received, 7:30 p.m.; Last-minute absentee request for a hospitalization emergency, 3 p.m.; Polls open, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.November 7, 2026: Deadline for military and overseas (UOCAVA) absentee ballots to be receivedNovember 8, 2026: Boards of elections may begin the official canvassNovember 18, 2026: Deadline for boards to begin the official canvassNovember 24, 2026: Deadline for boards to complete the official canvassDecember 11, 2026: Post-general campaign finance reports due, 4 p.m.Military and overseasvoting beginsRegister byEarly and mailvoting beginPre-general campaignfinance reports dueAbsentee requestdeadlineLast day of earlyin-person votingNo early in-personvoting at boards…Mail ballots dueLast-minute…Polls openMilitary andoverseas ballots dueBoards ofelections may…Deadline forboards to begin…Deadline forboards to complete…Post-general campaignfinance reports dueSepOctNovDecNov 3
The 2026 voting scheduleThe 2026 general election calendar holds 15 dated deadlines from the Secretary of State, from September 18, 2026 to December 11, 2026; Election Day is November 3, 2026.Source: Ohio Secretary of State · as of 2026-09-19 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
DateDeadlineTimeNote
September 18, 2026Military and overseas absentee voting beginsThe start of absentee voting for military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters.
October 5, 2026Voter registration deadline9 p.m.Boards of elections and the Ohio Secretary of State's office are open until 9 p.m. to accept registrations.
October 6, 2026Absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting beginEarly in-person voting runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October 6 through October 9; hours change on later dates through Election Day.
October 22, 2026Pre-general campaign finance reports due4 p.m.Certain candidates, political action committees, caucus committees and political parties file by 4 p.m. reports covering contributions and expenditures through October 14, 2026.
October 27, 2026Deadline for boards to receive absentee ballot applications8:30 p.m.Applications for an absentee ballot must reach the county board by this time.
November 1, 2026Last day of early in-person voting1 p.m. to 5 p.m.Early in-person voting at county boards of elections ends on Sunday, November 1; the hours that day are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the table above. By October 29, nearly 1.3 million Ohioans had already voted early in person or returned absentee ballots (Journal-News; Signal Ohio's counts from the Secretary of State's daily absentee file add to 1,289,090). The 2022 midterm saw 1.47 million early votes, then a record.
November 2, 2026No early in-person voting at boards of electionsEarly in-person voting at county boards of elections ended Sunday, November 1; there is no voting at boards of elections on Monday, November 2. Voters cast ballots at their assigned polling places on Tuesday, November 3.
November 3, 2026Deadline for non-military/overseas absentee ballots to be received7:30 p.m.Absentee ballots not covered by UOCAVA must be received by this time on Election Day.
November 3, 2026Last-minute absentee request for a hospitalization emergency3 p.m.A voter, or a voter's minor child, who is hospitalized because of an accident or medical emergency may apply for an absentee ballot until 3 p.m. on Election Day.
November 3, 2026Polls open6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.Election Day voting hours statewide.
November 7, 2026Deadline for military and overseas (UOCAVA) absentee ballots to be receivedThe extended receipt deadline for UOCAVA absentee ballots.
November 8, 2026Boards of elections may begin the official canvassCounty boards may begin the official canvass of the November 3 General Election ballots (5 days after the election).
November 18, 2026Deadline for boards to begin the official canvassCounty boards must begin the official canvass of November 3 General Election ballots no later than this date (15 days after the election).
November 24, 2026Deadline for boards to complete the official canvassCounty boards must complete the canvass of November 3 General Election ballots no later than this date (21 days after the election).
December 11, 2026Post-general campaign finance reports due4 p.m.Certain candidates, political action committees, caucus committees and political parties file by 4 p.m. reports covering contributions and expenditures through December 4, 2026.

Where they stand

Education

2. All of Ohio’s children today are all of Ohio’s future tomorrow.

September 22, 2026 · Campaign website

Source: kentsmith.org

Energy and utility bills

He has introduced legislation to bring much-needed reforms to Ohio’s public utilities, raise the state minimum wage, strengthen Ohio’s creative economy, ban dangerous firearm accessories, end the state takeover of public school districts, provide free school breakfasts and lunches, and end the gender wage gap.

September 22, 2026 · Campaign website

Source: kentsmith.org

Jobs and the economy

3. Ohio’s economy will grow from equal parts innovation and opportunity.

September 22, 2026 · Campaign website

Source: kentsmith.org

Why they are running

4. I am going to show up, do the work, and fight for those who sent me to Columbus.

September 22, 2026 · Campaign website

Source: kentsmith.org

What they have said, checked

None found in the records checked

Record in office

Record in office, dated entries4 record entries from 2025 to 2026; 4 of them votes; 3 offices held on the record.20102020Smith (D)Euclid City School District Board of Education, at-large, 2001 to 2013Member, Ohio House of Representatives, District 8, 2015-01-01 to 2022-12-31Ohio State Senator, District 21, 2023-01-01 to present2025-06-11 (vote): Voted no on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (Senate-passed version, as amended) (House Bill 96); the Senate vote w2025-06-25 (vote): Voted no on the conference committee report on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the Senate vote wa2025-10-01 (vote): Voted against overriding the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-tax2026-06-03 (vote): Voted no on adopting the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to require identification to vote, placing it on the November
Record in office, dated entries4 record entries from 2025 to 2026; 4 of them votes; 3 offices held on the record.Source: Cracked Buckeye person record for Smith (D), 4 dated entries · as of 2026-06-03 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
PersonDateKindEntry
Smith (D)2001officeEuclid City School District Board of Education, at-large
Smith (D)2015-01-01officeMember, Ohio House of Representatives, District 8
Smith (D)2023-01-01officeOhio State Senator, District 21
Smith (D)2025-06-11vote2025-06-11 (vote): Voted no on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (Senate-passed version, as amended) (House Bill 96); the Senate vote w
Smith (D)2025-06-25vote2025-06-25 (vote): Voted no on the conference committee report on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the Senate vote wa
Smith (D)2025-10-01vote2025-10-01 (vote): Voted against overriding the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-tax
Smith (D)2026-06-03vote2026-06-03 (vote): Voted no on adopting the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to require identification to vote, placing it on the November

  1. vote June 3, 2026

    Voted no on adopting the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to require identification to vote, placing it on the November 3, 2026 ballot as Issue 3 (Senate Joint Resolution 10); the Senate vote was 22-9 and the motion passed.

    Sources: Senate Joint Resolution 10: votes · Senate Joint Resolution 10

  2. vote October 1, 2025

    Voted against overriding the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-tax levies and certain emergency levies on the ballot (the Senate vote was 21-11, override succeeded).

    Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96

  3. vote June 25, 2025

    Voted no on the conference committee report on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the Senate vote was 23-10 and the motion passed.

    Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96

  4. vote June 11, 2025

    Voted no on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (Senate-passed version, as amended) (House Bill 96); the Senate vote was 23-10 and the motion passed.

    Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96

Recorded votes

Kent Smith cast 1,878 Yea or Nay votes on the roll calls we hold, across 6 terms from 2015 to 2026, all in the Ohio General Assembly, from the Ohio Legislature. Each term opens to every roll call, with the question, the result, how Kent Smith voted and how the majority of their party voted.

TermChamberYeaNayDid not voteWith party
136th General Assembly, 2025–2026Ohio Senate, district 2119436not recorded97% of 30
135th General Assembly, 2023–2024Ohio Senate, district 2119150not recorded96% of 51
134th General Assembly, 2021–2022Ohio House, district 831194not recorded94% of 87
133rd General Assembly, 2019–2020Ohio House, district 824050not recorded100% of 37
132nd General Assembly, 2017–2018Ohio House, district 831255not recorded95% of 44
131st General Assembly, 2015–2016Ohio House, district 830639not recorded88% of 34

"With party" counts only roll calls on which most Republicans and most Democrats voted opposite ways. The Ohio Legislature records who voted Yea and who voted Nay and no one else, so an absence cannot be told from an abstention and neither is counted; only floor votes are listed.

Source: Legislation and votes

Money

Where the money went, as filedKent Smith raised $49K, spent $63K, $11K on hand as of June 11, 2026; $25K more went out or stayed on hand than this filing reports raised.Raised to Spent: $42KOther funds (derived) to Spent: $22KRaised to Cash on hand: $7,025Other funds (derived) to Cash on hand: $3,646Kent Smith: Raised, $49K as filed, as of 2026-06-11Raised$49KKent Smith: Other funds (derived), $25K as filed, as of 2026-06-11Other funds (derived)$25KKent Smith: Spent, $63K as filed, as of 2026-06-11Spent$63KKent Smith: Cash on hand, $11K as filed, as of 2026-06-11Cash on hand$11KIn, as filedWhere it went, as filed
Where the money went, as filedKent Smith raised $49K, spent $63K, $11K on hand as of June 11, 2026; $25K more went out or stayed on hand than this filing reports raised.Source: Ohio Secretary of State campaign finance filings, committee Kent Smith Committee, through 2026-06-11 · as of 2026-06-11 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
FromToDollarsShare of totalNote
RaisedSpent41,764.7956.4%
Other funds (derived)Spent21,678.1929.2%
RaisedCash on hand7,025.219.5%
Other funds (derived)Cash on hand3,646.464.9%
Money, as filedKent Smith raised $49K, spent $63K, $11K on hand as of June 11, 2026; 1 filing on file.2026 Ohio Senate 21, for its report yearRaisedKent Smith, 2026 Ohio Senate 21, for its report year: raised $49K as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, as of 2026-06-11, for its report year$49KSpentKent Smith, 2026 Ohio Senate 21, for its report year: spent $63K as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, as of 2026-06-11, for its report year$63KCash on handKent Smith, 2026 Ohio Senate 21, for its report year: cash on hand $11K as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, as of 2026-06-11, for its report year$11K
Money, as filedKent Smith raised $49K, spent $63K, $11K on hand as of June 11, 2026; 1 filing on file.Source: Ohio Secretary of State campaign finance filings, committee Kent Smith Committee · as of 2026-06-11 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
GroupItemUSDNote
2026 Ohio Senate 21, for its report yearRaised48,790
2026 Ohio Senate 21, for its report yearSpent63,442.98
2026 Ohio Senate 21, for its report yearCash on hand10,671.67
Itemized contributions from inside Ohio, share of all itemizedNo filing on file for Kent Smith breaks itemized contributions down by state.None found in the records checked
Itemized contributions from inside Ohio, share of all itemizedNo filing on file for Kent Smith breaks itemized contributions down by state.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-03 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Totals as filed

RaceFilerRaisedSpentCash on handAs of
Ohio State Senator, District 21 OhioSOS Kent Smith Committee $48,790$63,443$10,672June 11, 2026

Ohio campaigns were due to file pre-general reports on October 22, covering activity through October 14, 2026. They are not in these figures, which come from the latest report in our records, dated June 11, 2026.

Sources: Campaign Finance Data · Campaign Finance: Cover Page search · Campaign Finance

Donors, as filedNo itemized donor is on file for Kent Smith yet.None found in the records checked
Donors, as filedNo itemized donor is on file for Kent Smith yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-03 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Outside spending

Outside spending, as reportedNo outside spending is on file for or against Kent Smith yet.None found in the records checked
Outside spending, as reportedNo outside spending is on file for or against Kent Smith yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-03 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Financial interests

Disclosed holdings

Disclosed income

Reported conflicts

None found in the records checked.

Net worth, as estimated

None found in the records checked.

Polling and approval

Polls, Ohio State Senator, District 21, as publishedNo poll of this race naming Kent Smith is on file yet.None found in the records checked
Polls, Ohio State Senator, District 21, as publishedNo poll of this race naming Kent Smith is on file yet.Source: fec.gov · as of 2026-11-03 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
Status
None found in the records checked

Elections

Election results, share of the vote1 race on file, 1 won; shares from 83.0% to 83.0%.2022 Ohio Senate 21Kent Smith, Ohio State Senator, District 21: won, 83.0%83.0%
Election results, share of the vote1 race on file, 1 won; shares from 83.0% to 83.0%.Source: Ohio Secretary of State, official canvass, 2022 · as of 2022 · Download this chart
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
GroupItemPCTNote
2022 Ohio Senate 2183
RacePartyResultVotesShare
Ohio State Senator, District 21 (2026) DemocraticPending
Ohio State Senator, District 21 (2022) DemocraticWon 90,623 83.0%

Offices held

  • Euclid City School District Board of Education, at-large · 2001 to 2013 · elected

    Source: ballotpedia.org

  • Member, Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 · 2015-01-01 to 2022-12-31 · elected

    Source: ballotpedia.org

  • Ohio State Senator, District 21 · 2023-01-01 to present · elected

    Sources: ohiosenate.gov · ballotpedia.org

Endorsements

Endorsements received

Sources

Every URL on this page, once each.

  1. Ohio elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
  2. Kent Smith · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-22 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
  3. Kent Smith · The Ohio Senate · accessed 2026-09-22
  4. Kent Smith for Ohio Senate · Kent Smith Committee · accessed 2026-09-22
  5. Campaign Finance Data · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
  6. Campaign Finance: Cover Page search · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
  7. Campaign Finance · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
  8. House Bill 96: votes · Ohio General Assembly
  9. Senate Joint Resolution 10: votes · Ohio General Assembly
  10. Ohio State Senate District 21 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
  11. 2022 Official Election Results · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-21
  12. https://oft-aft.org/2026election
  13. https://uawpower.org/states/ohio
  14. https://northshoreaflcio.org/endorsements
  15. https://ohio-chamber-object-storage-m0uzx.sevalla.storage/uploads/2026/July/13/FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE.pdf
  16. https://ohio-chamber-object-storage-m0uzx.sevalla.storage/uploads/2026/March/27/FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE.pdf
  17. https://ohea.org/oea-candidate-recommendations/
  18. https://theoecactionfund.org/2026-endorsements/
  19. https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-advocates-ohio/elections
  20. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio Announces State Legislature, Supreme Court Endorsements · 2026-07-20
  21. Ohio AFL-CIO Issues Endorsements, Approves Our Recommendations · North Shore AFL-CIO · 2026-03-02 · accessed 2026-10-20
  22. 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee · Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
  23. https://www.kentsmith.org/about
  24. House Bill 96 · Ohio General Assembly · accessed 2026-09-21
  25. Senate Joint Resolution 10 · Ohio General Assembly · accessed 2026-09-21
  26. Ohio campaign finance

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