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.

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.

Republican Niraj Antani has launched a campaign to succeed term-limited Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose next year

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.