With Mahoning County Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti not seeking reelection and state Rep. Lauren McNally running to succeed her, both spots held by the two Democrats are attracting a number of candidates.

Rimedio-Righetti’s decision to not run next year for what would have been her fifth four-year term was expected for months. But with her Dec. 10 announcement and McNally’s decision to replace her, with the incumbent’s blessing, it opens two coveted political seats.

Mahoning was a longtime Democratic county until Donald Trump took control of the Republican Party. Since then, Republicans have experienced great success in the county, including winning five county executive branch seats in the 2024 election when Trump was on the ballot. For the first time in almost 90 years, there are more Republicans holding county executive branch seats in the county than Democrats.

Trump won’t be on the ballot next year, but he and his policies will loom large in the election.

Before Rimedio-Righetti’s announcement, there were a couple of declared Republican candidates: Canfield City Council President Christine Oliver and Mike Young of Berlin, who owns a construction company.

Also, county Recorder Richard S. Scarsella, who is also a county educational service center governing board member, has said he is strongly considering the commissioner’s position. Scarsella was elected county recorder in November 2024, getting 51.48% of the vote over longtime Democratic incumbent Noralynn Palermo, who he then hired as his chief deputy.

Canfield City Mayor Don Dragish, who was reelected last month, is planning to file and Austintown Trustee Bruce Shepas is circulating petitions for the position.

Another Republican looking at the commissioner’s seat is Troy Rhoades of Canfield, FirstEnergy’s regional external affairs consultant and an Air Force veteran.

With Rimedio-Righetti’s endorsement, McNally is running for commissioner next year.

Before her 15 years as a county commissioner, Rimedio-Righetti spent 10 years on Youngstown City Council, representing the 4th Ward. McNally served six years on Youngstown council and was first elected in 2022 to the Ohio House.

In addition to McNally, county Treasurer Daniel Yemma, a Democrat who’s held that job since 2011, said he’s considering either commissioner or county auditor in 2026. Yemma spent 13 years on Struthers City Council before he started serving as treasurer.

During the 2024 election, Yemma received more votes than any other county candidate in Mahoning in a contested election. That’s impressive when you consider Yemma is a Democrat who ran during the best election for Republicans in Mahoning in almost a century.

If Yemma chooses auditor, he’d face Republican Ralph Meacham, who was first elected to the job in 2014. Meacham has run unopposed for reelection in 2018 and 2022.

Yemma would not have to give up his treasurer’s seat should he decide to run for commissioner or auditor unless he wins.

With McNally deciding to campaign for county commissioner, her Ohio House spot opens up.

Don’t be surprised if several Democrats get into that race.

The House district was drawn to be safe for Democrats. Before the 2024 election, the district favored Democrats by 21% based on election results in partisan statewide races during the previous decade.

It includes Youngstown, Austintown, Poland, Lowellville, Jackson, Milton, Craig Beach and Coitsville.

Among the potential Democratic candidates are John Boccieri, a former state representative, state senator and congressman; and Alexis Smith, a doctor and activist.

Basia Adamczak, a former Youngstown council’s 7th Ward councilwoman, plans to seek the position. Adamczak won the seat in 2019 by seven votes and lost it in 2023 by nine votes.

Michael L. Kripchak, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2024, is planning a 2026 bid for the state Senate seat currently held by Republican Al Cutrona of Canfield.

After McNally’s announcement, Kripchak considered the safe Ohio House seat rather than the state Senate, which favors Republicans by about 10% based on previous voting results. But Kripchak is going to run against Cutrona for the Senate seat, which includes all of Mahoning, Columbiana and Carroll counties.

Regarding the House seat, Austintown Trustee Robert Santos, who was reelected last month to a second four-year term, is considering a bid for it as a Republican, said Tom McCabe, chairman of the county Republican Party’s executive committee.

McCabe said because the district favors Democrats, it’s going to be a rough race for a Republican to win.

But McCabe said he will discuss the seat with Republican leaders in Columbus, who see it as a potential pickup, and “look for a candidate we can get behind.”

David Skolnick covers politics for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator.