Kent Smith
Ohio State Senator, District 21 since 2022. Ran in 6 elections between 2014 and 2022, winning 6. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Ohio State Senator, District 21Born 1966
- In office
- 3 yrs
- Since 2022
- Bills became law
- 0
- 27 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 0.0%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +74.9
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Energy · ranking democratic member
- Local Government · ranking member
- Education
- Judiciary
- Legislative Ethics
- Public Utilities
- Rules and Reference
- Transportation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Smith sits in the Ohio State Senate
Smith is closer to the center than 11% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Catherine Ingram, Paula Hicks-Hudson, Bill DeMora
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:58 PM ET
With Smith’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats97%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills66%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Ohio State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Smith’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Smith | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30, 2026 | HB 519: Prohibit specified actions with intent to steal a motor vehicle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 28–3 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | HB 455: Regards the operation of public schools and the DEW | No | No | Yes | Passed 24–9 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | HB 492: Prohibit interfering with motor vehicle-related arrests | No | No | Yes | Passed 24–9 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | HB 251: Regards drone use by law enforcement; aviation facilities | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 31–2 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | SB 276: Ratify the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists | No | No | Yes | Passed 24–9 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Smith was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ohio State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+74.9 | D+67.0 | +7.9 |
| 2022 | Ohio State Senate, District 21 | Won | D+66.0 | — | — |
| 2020 | Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2016 | Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | D+59.6 | — | — |
| 2014 | Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 | Won | D+53.3 | — | — |
| 2014 | Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 (primary) | Won | +28.5 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Ohio Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Smith has held
- Ohio State Senate, District 21 · since 2022
- Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 · 2014–2022
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Smith has run against
- Mikhail Alterman (R) · 2026 election, won
- Cassandra McDonald (R) · 2016 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Ohio Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Smith
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/d9c3dfce-8b7f-402f-9dec-5179e38b528f
- Wikidata Q18749204
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET