State Senator, District 11
November 3, 2026 · State Senate District 11; Ohio · State senate district · general
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: High · 97 out of 100
Smaller districts give each vote more weight, and this district is small for its type. About 338,964 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(373,875 ÷ 338,964) ÷ ln(373,875 ÷ 338,214) = 97.79, comparing state senate districts in OH (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
High representation + unknown decisiveness → High vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
State Senator is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the state senate
- Confirming certain governor appointments in many states
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
James Nowak
Republican · declared
James S. Nowak is the 2026 Republican nominee for Ohio Senate District 11 (Toledo/Lucas County). Born and raised in Toledo with bachelor's and law degrees from the University of Toledo, he has practiced law for over 40 years, focusing on estate planning, probate, elder law, real estate, and business law. He previously ran as a Republican for Ohio House District 45 in 2014 and 2016 and for Toledo City Council District 6 in 2018. He faces Democratic incumbent Paula Hicks-Hudson and Libertarian Kenneth Sharp in November.
Kenneth Sharp
Libertarian · declared
Kenneth W. Sharp is the 2026 Libertarian nominee for Ohio Senate District 11 (Toledo/Lucas County), affiliated with the Lucas County Libertarian Party. Public biographical information is limited; he faces Democratic incumbent Paula Hicks-Hudson and Republican James Nowak in November.
Paula Hicks-Hudson
Democratic · Incumbent · declared
Paula Hicks-Hudson has represented District 11 (Toledo/Lucas County) in the Ohio Senate since 2022. A lawyer who worked as an assistant Lucas County prosecutor, assistant public defender, and assistant state attorney general, she joined Toledo City Council in 2011, served as council president 2013-2015, then became Toledo's first African American female mayor (2015-2018) after Mayor Michael Collins's death, and served in the Ohio House (District 44) before her Senate election. She holds degrees from Spelman College, Colorado State University, and the University of Iowa College of Law. She is seeking re-election in 2026 against Republican James Nowak and Libertarian Kenneth Sharp.
Records: Environment and Public Health 1 for, Healthcare Affordability 1 for, Housing Affordability 1 for, Public Infrastructure 1 for
Election sources
Source: ohiocapitaljournal.com
Source: ballotpedia.org