COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State Senator Kristina Roegner, a seasoned Republican with extensive experience in fiscal oversight and finance, declared her candidacy for state treasurer on Thursday.
At 56 years old, Roegner, who resides in Hudson, has dedicated 14 years to the Ohio Legislature, serving four terms in the Ohio House and two in the Ohio Senate. During her time in office, she has concentrated on various issues including the state’s regulatory frameworks, occupational licensing, fiscal policies, tax reductions, and the enhancement of government efficiency.
Recently, she chaired hearings on a proposed Senate bill aimed at prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Ohio’s public higher education institutions. Republican senators have argued that the bill is designed to safeguard conservative viewpoints, whereas critics contend it undermines academic independence.
Roegner expressed her commitment to being a responsible custodian of Ohio’s treasury, pledging to invest taxpayer dollars judiciously and to seek innovative solutions to enhance the lives of residents. “That’s who I am and that is what I’ll do,” she stated while announcing her campaign for 2026. “The money in the State Treasury belongs to the taxpayer, so I promise to apply the highest level of professionalism, integrity and full transparency as your next state treasurer.”
Her background includes a role as a mechanical engineer at Westinghouse Power Generation and as a client engagement manager at McKinsey & Co., a leading consulting firm. Additionally, she earned an MBA in finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Her announcement followed the news that former GOP state Senator Niraj Antani had paused his run for the 2026 secretary of state position, opting instead to compete for the state treasurer role. Antani, who is 33 and based in Miamisburg, mentioned the “new dynamic” in the race that arose when current statewide officeholders established their campaigns. Treasurer Robert Sprague redirected his focus from a gubernatorial bid to run for secretary of state, while Secretary of State Frank LaRose initiated his campaign for state auditor. Both have indicated support for Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump ally, in his expected gubernatorial candidacy.
Antani voiced his disappointment but emphasized that he remained resolute, stating that the recent developments made it harder to see a clear path to victory against Sprague. “My team and I have taken the last week to evaluate this new dynamic, and unfortunately we see no path forward to victory with Treasurer Sprague in the race,” he declared. “While I am disappointed, I am not deterred. For the last decade, I’ve fought against the entrenched establishment who seek to protect the status quo. I will continue that fight.”
The shifts in the political landscape derive from the upcoming vacancies in all five of Ohio’s statewide executive offices, which are occurring due to term limits. Antani first entered the Ohio House in 2014, becoming the first Indian-American and Hindu to serve in that legislative body. After six years there, he transitioned to the Ohio Senate for a single term, only to see his district redrawn in a manner that favored Democratic candidates. He opted not to run for re-election and instead targeted Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District, where he ended up in 10th place out of 11 candidates in the Republican primary with a mere 1.7% of the total votes, trailing current U.S. Representative Dave Taylor.
