The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) Government Affairs Committee got a lively, bipartisan look this week at the political forces already shaping Ohio’s 2026 election cycle.

Members heard from two standout speakers, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou and David Pepper, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, who each offered sharp, engaging perspectives on the statewide races, voter dynamics and policy fights ahead. A lively Q&A with attendees touched on issues likely to dominate Ohio’s campaign season, including energy, workforce, taxes and the state’s economic competitiveness.

“Candidates can campaign in slogans, but manufacturers operate in reality,” said James Lee, OMA managing director of public policy services. “Energy costs, workforce shortages and tax policy are not talking points. They are the difference between winning the next investment and watching it leave Ohio.”

With major statewide offices on the ballot, the meeting underscored how quickly campaign rhetoric can become real policy in Columbus, and why OMA will continue engaging candidates and policymakers from both parties throughout the 2026 election cycle. 6/4/2026