The former Republican state senator from Miamisburg announced his 2026 bid for secretary of state Thursday, saying his family’s immigration from British-occupied India gave him a deep appreciation for the right to vote.

Former state Sen. Niraj Antani, a self-described “pro-Trump conservative warrior” who proposed unsuccessful bills banning ballot drop boxes and requiring citizenship checks for voters, has launched a bid to be Ohio's next elections chief.

Today, former State Senator Niraj Antani announced a campaign for Secretary of State of Ohio. Sen. Antani served for over a decade as a State Senator and State Representative in the Ohio General Assembly, representing the greater Dayton area. The Republican primary in Ohio will take place in the spring of 2026.

Former Dayton-area lawmaker Niraj Antani announced his candidacy Thursday to run for Ohio Secretary of State in 2026. Antani, 33, just finished a 10-year run as a state lawmaker representing portions of Montgomery County.

MIAMISBURG, OH — Former State Senator Niraj Antani has launched his campaign for Ohio Secretary of State, a position currently held by Frank LaRose, who is term-limited. Antani, a Republican, represented the Dayton area in the Ohio General Assembly for over a decade, first as a State Representative and later as a State Senator.