January 9, 2026, Press Release from the Libertarian Party of Ohio:
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Don Kissick today announced his candidacy for Governor of Ohio and named James Mills as his choice for Lieutenant Governor in the 2026 election, launching a statewide campaign grounded in unity, compassion, and a firm commitment to restoring trust in Ohio’s government.
Kissick enters the race with a clear message: Ohio’s future depends on leadership that brings people together, confronts corruption head-on, and governs with humility, integrity, and respect for every individual.
“For too long, Ohioans have felt divided, ignored, or left behind by a political system that rewards insiders instead of serving people,” Kissick said. “This campaign is about restoring not just trust in our public institutions, but our faith in one another.”
Kissick’s campaign emphasizes ethical leadership, transparency, and decentralizing power back to communities. He has made anti-corruption reform a cornerstone of his platform, arguing that meaningful unity is impossible without accountability.
“Our government should be open, honest, and accessible,” Kissick said. “If people can’t see how decisions are made or where money is going, trust erodes. We’re running to fix that.”
James Mills brings extensive experience in financial services, nonprofit leadership, community-based initiatives, and coalition-building across public and private sectors. Throughout his career, Mills has focused on strengthening local communities, supporting small businesses, and helping families navigate complex systems with dignity and clarity.
“James understands how policy decisions affect real people and real communities,” Kissick said. “He brings compassion, practical experience, and a problem-solving mindset that complements this campaign’s mission.”
Together, Kissick and Mills are advancing a platform focused on unity through reform:
Anti-Corruption and Accountability
The Kissick–Mills campaign supports ending political contributions to sitting politicians, establishing a five-year prohibition on former elected officials becoming lobbyists, and creating a publicly searchable database of all government contracts, budgets, and expenditures.
Economic Freedom and Local Empowerment
The campaign calls for abolishing property taxes and replacing them with locally controlled consumption-based taxes, giving communities greater flexibility and transparency in funding schools and essential services. Kissick and Mills also support simplifying business registration and licensing, reducing barriers for entrepreneurs, and fostering collaborative local business ecosystems through community-based organizations and chambers of commerce.
Personal Dignity and Equal Justice
The platform prioritizes adhering to Ohio’s Constitution, ensuring due process for all people, ending qualified immunity, protecting everyone's equal rights, and reducing unnecessary regulation in the cannabis industry to promote fairness, opportunity, and responsible personal choice.
“At its core, this campaign is about governing with empathy,” Mills said. “Unity doesn’t mean uniformity — it means respecting people’s rights, listening to one another, and building systems that treat everyone with dignity.”
Kissick and Mills will be running on the Libertarian ballot in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election.
Additional campaign details will be announced in the coming weeks.
