YOUNGSTOWN - Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti has announced she will not run to retain her seat in the May 2026 Election.

The democratic commissioner has served four terms and will finish out 16 years in the office.

"I figured it's time now to move aside and bring what we have already done to somebody new," Commissioner Rimedio-Righetti said. 

And that could mean a change in party. 

“Mahoning County surprisingly has become much more republican over the last eight, twelve years since the onset of Trump and Trump's vote in the valley and so we would expect that it's going to be a competitive election," William Binning, a political analyst said. 

Republican Mike Young of Berlin Township told 21 News he plans to run for the county commissioner seat, as well as Canfield Council President Christine Oliver. 

Righetti has thrown her support behind Democratic state rep Lauren McNally. 

"I said this position is perfect for you…you were a councilwoman, you're a legislator, you know what goes on in Columbus, you know what we need here and you’ve helped us,” Commissioner Rimedio-Righetti said.

So who could be vying for McNally's seat? 

Some potential names analysts are watching for the state rep race include outgoing Youngstown mayor Tito Brown and former Congressional candidate Mike Kripchak, who said he and his team are still exploring their options.