The Ohio Libertarian Party has its own primary this year.  According to this newspaper story, it is likely two Libertarians will appear on the party’s primary ballot for Governor.

This appears to be the first contested third party primary in Ohio since 1970, when the American Independent Party had a contested gubernatorial primary.  Edwin G. Lawton won that primary with 3,463 votes.  His opponent, Robert W. Annable, received 1,870.

There aren’t many minor party primaries in Ohio.  Newly-qualifying parties don’t have their own primaries.  Minor parties only have primaries in Ohio if they are in a second election year of having qualified status.  Before 2026, the last time a minor party had its own primary in Ohio was the Green Party in 2016.