Don Kissick
Libertarian candidate for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Ohio · Open seat
U.S. Navy veteran; chair of the Libertarian Party of Ohio
Don Kissick is the Libertarian Party of Ohio's nominee for governor in 2026. His running mate for lieutenant governor is business owner James Mills. Kissick lives in Ottawa, Ohio, has chaired the Libertarian Party of Ohio since 2018, and ran before for U.S. Senate in 2024 and for U.S. House (OH-5) in 2018.
Where Kissick stands
- Data centers
- Calls for an immediate moratorium on all new data center construction, which he says a governor can impose by halting tax breaks. Says he would then work with lawmakers on rules for cooling, power use and impact on farmland.
- Data centers (oversight)
- Says he would appoint people to state boards who would fully scrutinize data center projects against environmental and construction standards.
- License plate reader cameras (Flock)
- Opposes automatic license plate recognition cameras, such as Flock cameras, and lists this as one of his three main issues.
- Property taxes
- Supports ending property taxes in Ohio.
- Small business licensing
- Supports simplifying licensing for small businesses.
- Health care
- Says he believes in medical freedom. Supports repealing laws that require health care providers to get government approval before they expand services.
- Debates
- Has asked to debate Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton, either one or both, and has contacted the Ramaswamy campaign to set up a debate.
Background
- Libertarian nominee for Governor of Ohio, 2026
- Chair, Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee, 2018–present
- Member, Libertarian Party of Ohio Central Committee (District 5), 2015–2017 and 2018–present
- Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, Ohio, 2024
- Libertarian candidate for U.S. House, Ohio District 5, 2018
- U.S. Navy, six years, including Desert Shield and Desert Storm deployments
- Attended Ferris State University (technical communication), 1995–1998
- Born in Royal Oak, Michigan; moved to Ohio in 2007; lives in Ottawa, Ohio
In the news
- What to know about Ohio’s 2026 governor’s race NBC4 (WCMH), October 22, 2026
- Libertarian candidate for Ohio governor calls on Ramaswamy to drop out over attack ad WLIO / Hometown Stations, October 21, 2026
- Where Ohio’s libertarian Gubernatorial candidate stands on important issues Spectrum News 1, October 7, 2026
Also running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
- Amy Acton Democratic
- Vivek Ramaswamy Republican
Sources
- Vote Smart biography
- Statehouse News Bureau, Sept. 15, 2026
- Dayton Daily News governor's race overview
- NBC4 What to know about Ohio's 2026 governor's race
- WLIO, Oct. 21, 2026
- Ohio Capital Journal on data center proposals
Last researched October 22, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.