Heather Hill, a Republican entrepreneur from Appalachia, is driven by the painful memories of her two foster children, who were shot and killed by police. These haunting thoughts still wake her once or twice a week, often leaving her in tears. This personal tragedy has motivated Hill, 49, to enter the race for Ohio’s 2026 governor.
In a recent interview, Hill shared that she had made numerous attempts to reach out to governors and senators in an effort to address the issues she cares deeply about, but nothing seemed to make progress. Frustrated, she decided to take matters into her own hands and run for governor.
Hill believes that her unique perspective as a rural Black Republican woman, combined with her experience as a foster mother to two children involved in separate police shootings a year apart, offers insights that her opponents do not have.
Since Heather Hill entered the race for Ohio’s 2026 governor in November, she has seen more prominent, wealthy, and well-connected candidates position themselves for the contest. Initially, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted was considered the front-runner. However, he dropped out of the race after accepting a U.S. Senate appointment. Soon after, two-term Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced his candidacy. This announcement was quickly overshadowed by the news that Vivek Ramaswamy, former co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency, launched his own gubernatorial campaign. There is also speculation that Jim Tressel, the former Ohio State football coach who replaced Husted as lieutenant governor, might enter the GOP primary next year.
Dr. Amy Acton, the former state health director who guided Ohioans through the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, is running for governor as a Democrat.
Despite the increasing competition to succeed Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who is term-limited, Heather Hill remains unfazed. She shared that losing her two former foster children—one at 20 and the other at 21—was devastating, “like any other mother.” However, she believes this painful experience provides her with a unique perspective to foster understanding between law enforcement, whom she supports, and young people with mental health issues.
Heather Hill believes her identity as a pro-gun, pro-family conservative woman and business owner will energize Ohio’s Republican base. She views herself as the best candidate for uniting the state, saying, “I have strong conservative values, but I’m also a person of color — and that’s going to pull people from both ends of the spectrum.”
Hill’s only prior experience in elected office was serving one term as president of the Morgan Local school board. She has also held leadership roles with the Ohio School Boards Association, her local Habitat for Humanity chapter, and the Ohio Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission.
Hill and her husband, Darrin, live on a 100-acre farm in the small village of Malta, located in southeastern Ohio’s Appalachian region. They have two children, a married son in the Army, and a daughter who is a college senior. Over the past 20 years, they have raised a third child and fostered many others. Candy Barr, a foster parent trainer now on Hill’s campaign advisory team, praised her “zeal and commitment” to helping children from challenging backgrounds.
The Hills faced challenges with conception, enduring several miscarriages and undergoing fertility treatments before eventually adopting their second child. This experience has given Heather Hill a deep understanding of medical procedures like dilation and curettage (D&C), which can be used for surgical abortion, as well as the importance of other life-saving surgeries. She also supports in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Although Hill personally opposes abortion, she voted against a 2023 amendment that guaranteed access to abortion in Ohio’s constitution. Despite this, she has stated that she will not challenge the outcome. “The people have made their decision, and as governor, I will support what they’ve voted for,” Hill said. “It’s in our Constitution… I will honor that.”
The Hills are passionate about hunting and strongly support gun rights. They own several businesses, including the Ohio Hunting Lodge, and Hill’s first venture was a marketing firm that now operates statewide. They also run a real estate business focused on providing affordable housing for low-income Ohioans.
Hill acknowledged that while she doesn’t always align with Ohio’s current governor, a pragmatic center-right conservative, she is thankful for the opportunities he has provided. She believes he has worked hard to improve Ohio, though she recognizes there’s more to be done. “I know things aren’t perfect, and there’s a lot of work ahead,” she said, “but he’s laid a strong foundation for me to build upon.”