Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 8 Republican primary)

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Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: February 7, 2018
Primary: May 8, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent(s):
Gov. John Kasich (Republican)
Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in Ohio
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up
Inside Elections: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Ohio
executive elections
Governor

Lieutenant governor
Attorney general
Secretary of state
Treasurer
Auditor
State board of education

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine won the May 8, 2018, Republican gubernatorial primary election against Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor. DeWine received 59.8 percent of the vote to Taylor's 40.2 percent.[1]

Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor were the sole contenders for the Republican nomination to succeed term-limited Gov. John Kasich (R). The primary battle played out over Ohio airwaves as a battle over ideological purity.

Each candidate made the argument that they alone could carry the conservative banner, with a Taylor campaign ad concluding: "D.C. DeWine: too liberal for Ohio."[2] DeWine's campaign ads referred to Taylor as a career politician while saying that DeWine was "a rock-solid conservative for governor."[3]

Taylor was elected as Kasich's running-mate in the 2010 and 2014 elections. She had previously served as the state Auditor and in the state House. On the campaign trail, Taylor avoided the legacy of Gov. Kasich, who has established himself as a counterweight to President Trump, denying that the governor had endorsed her.[4]

DeWine, the campaign finance and polling leader throughout much of the race, has served in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the state Senate, and as lieutenant governor. He touted his endorsements from the Republican Party of Ohio and members of the state legislature.

A watershed moment in the race was the November 2017 announcement by Secretary of State Jon Husted (R) that he would withdraw from the election and join the DeWine campaign as his running mate, combining the two campaigns' financial resources.[5]

For more information on gubernatorial elections in 2018, click here. For more information on lieutenant gubernatorial elections in 2018, click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the 2018 election, the sitting governor was John Kasich (R), who was first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Kasich was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term in 2018.
  • At the time of the 2018 election, Ohio was a Republican trifecta. It first gained this status in 2011, when Kasich took office and Republicans gained a majority in the Ohio House of Representatives. Ohio was a Republican triplex in 2018.
  • In the five presidential elections leading up to the 2018 election, Ohio was won by the Republican candidate in 2000, 2004, and 2016 and by the Democratic candidate in 2008 and 2012. The widest margin of victory was Donald Trump's eight percent margin in 2016 while the narrowest was George W. Bush's two percent margin in 2004.

    • Ohio was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election. Click here for more information on other 2018 gubernatorial elections.

    Candidates and election results

    See also: Statistics on gubernatorial candidates, 2018

    Richard Michael DeWine defeated Mary Taylor in the Republican primary for Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

    Republican primary election

    Republican primary for Governor of Ohio

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeDeWine2015.jpg
    		Richard Michael DeWine
     
    59.8
     
    		499,639
    Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mary_Taylor.JPG
    		Mary Taylor
     
    40.2
     
    		335,328

    There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

    		Total votes: 834,967
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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    Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

    Candidate profiles

    Republican Party Mike DeWine

    MikeDeWine2015.jpg

    As of the 2018 election, DeWine was the state attorney general, having been elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. DeWine previously served in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Ohio State Senate, and was the state's lieutenant governor from 1991 until 1994.

    In his June 2017 announcement that he would run for governor, DeWine emphasized the challenges he argued the state was facing: "The tragedy of our state today is that too many Ohioans will never realize their dreams because they simply lack the education, the skills, the training – and, in too many cases, the sobriety."[6] DeWine's campaign website argued that "for our state to succeed in the future, we have to take efforts to create and retain jobs in Ohio to the next level. By curbing excessive taxation and burdensome regulations, his focus will be on creating a more inviting business environment and bringing and keeping jobs in Ohio."[7]

    DeWine received endorsements from the Republican Party of Ohio, former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), and state Senate President Larry Obhof (R).

    Republican Party Mary Taylor

    Mary Taylor.JPG

    As of the 2018 election, Taylor was the state's lieutenant governor, having been elected in 2010 on a ticket with Gov. John Kasich (R) and re-elected in 2014. Taylor previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives and as the state auditor.

    In her July 2017 announcement that she would run for governor, Taylor identified the opioid crisis as her top priority: "When I'm governor, I will continue to give my full commitment to confront the addiction epidemic...It has touched so many families, including mine. There is no commitment closer to my heart than this one."[8] Taylor's campaign website argued that as lieutenant governor "Mary Taylor has worked to improve the jobs climate in Ohio and rein in government overreach." The website emphasized her stances on healthcare, opioids, and taxes.[9]

    Taylor was endorsed by Gov. John Kasich (R) and Sens. Steve Daines (R), Mike Lee (R), Rand Paul (R), and Ted Cruz (R).

    Timeline

    Campaign themes and policy stances

    Campaign themes

    Republican Party Mike DeWine

    “

    Mike DeWine's "Recovery Ohio" Plan
    1: Pass legislation to give the Governor the ability to declare a public health emergency.
    2: Create a 21st century law enforcement data sharing and analytics infrastructure for every Ohio law enforcement agency.
    3: Expand proven drug task force models to tackle flow of money and drugs from Mexican drug cartels.
    4: Create at least 60 more specialized drug courts.
    5: Double the substance use treatment capacity in Ohio.
    6: Expand workforce of critical specialists.
    7: Empower employers to help employees with substance use disorder.
    8: Help business owners hire employees in recovery by offering employers incentives and reducing risks.
    9: Create a special position reporting directly to the Governor with Cabinet-level authority.
    10: Implement proven Kindergarten-12th grade drug prevention education in all Ohio schools.
    11: Roll out a statewide drug prevention media campaign.
    12: Expanded early intervention programs that target Ohio families and children in foster care.
    [10]

    		”
    —DeWine for Governor[11]


    Republican Party Mary Taylor

    “

    A health care plan designed by Ohio for Ohioans
    Obamacare has been a disaster for the people of Ohio and across the country, increasing the cost of health insurance, undermining the competitive insurance marketplace Ohio cultivated for decades, hurting job creation, mandating coverage but reducing insurance options, and creating a dependency on an unsustainable expectation of government-run coverage. As Insurance Director, Mary Taylor led the charge against Obamacare and an Ohio-based exchange. As Governor, she will advocate for the repeal of Obamacare and flexibility for states, and will implement in Ohio an approach that is fiscally sustainable and prioritizes access to care for the working poor, those with preexisting conditions, job creators, and those battling mental illness and addiction. Bringing Innovation to Health Care Policy
    Current discussions about health care focus on health insurance, rather than health care. As long as we look at health care through the same old lens, we will be stuck with the same old problems. But if we challenge the status quo and focus on how to actually provide care to the people who need it, opportunities for innovation and patient-centered approaches can be added to the discussion. Mary Taylor will advance a system of direct access to primary care for routine care and preventative services that can be provided outside of the health insurance system. This transformative approach is more economical and more patient-focused, and utilizes insurance for emergency and high-cost care. Crafting a Plan That Works for Ohioans
    What works in California, Illinois, or Alabama does not necessarily work in Ohio. Mary Taylor will, as she has done for more than six years, advocate for the repeal of Obamacare and for Congress to provide governors flexibility to craft solutions for their states’ needs. Using the expertise she gained as Insurance Commissioner, she will craft a plan that addresses Ohio’s specific health care needs while ensuring that the state is still able to fund priorities such as education, public safety, and infrastructure. Through direct primary care, expanding health savings accounts for Ohioans working multiple jobs, and protecting those with preexisting conditions, the Taylor plan focuses on the unique needs of Ohio’s citizens and small employers. Using Medicaid as the Safety Net it Was Designed For
    Medicaid was originally enacted to serve the impoverished who are unable to work due to age, disability, or family responsibilities. Since then, coverage has expanded to include able-bodied adults. The Medicaid expansion created by Obamacare is unsustainable and crowds out other state priorities, and Mary Taylor will end it. Medicaid will serve the people who need it, and Taylor will promote lower-cost solutions to provide health care while incentivizing work and ensuring opportunities for longer-term success for those who are able. Giving Flexibility to Small Businesses
    Small businesses should be allowed to contribute to their employees’ health care in a meaningful way, without having to shoulder the entire burden as they do in today’s “all or nothing” market. Taylor will demand that Congress allow small employers to contribute what they can, without triggering all the laws that come with providing a group plan.

    Battling Ohio's Addiction Epidemic
    The number of fatalities from drug overdoses in Ohio is staggering – more than 4,000 of our fellow Ohioans last year. This is a crisis for the entire nation and Ohio is the epicenter. As Governor, Mary Taylor will build on the efforts that have been established to focus on prevention and reducing the supply of drugs. Her administration will facilitate the building of an infrastructure – by spurring private sector investment and utilizing market-based health care principles – that saves lives and provides Ohio’s addicted population access to treatment and recovery health care services.

    Note: Opioid addiction is the most pressing problem today and therefore the focus of this proposal, but the initiatives of the Taylor Administration will address addiction in whatever form it takes.

    Further Change the culture around prescribing opioids
    Most people who end up addicted to opioids got started with a legal prescription. This is appalling but changeable for the future. Taylor will continue Ohio’s dramatic efforts to reform prescribing standards and will lead by example within the state’s health systems, emphasizing non-opioid alternatives to treating pain. As addiction services become more integrated into the health care system, Taylor will drive education about addiction into baseline and continuing education curriculum for health care professionals in Ohio.

    Jump starting a private sector treatment system
    As Governor, Mary Taylor will propose and lead a ten-year, up to $1 billion bond initiative to incentivize the private sector to create a robust, effective, and innovative treatment infrastructure in Ohio by funding capital and start-up costs as well as research into relevant new medical advances. She will drive integration of addiction services into the market-based health care system that she will bring to Ohio. And she will work with President Trump on a Medicaid waiver, or other flexibility to states, to allow for a true safety-net approach of direct financing of treatment facilities that provide care to all patients, regardless of coverage.

    Coordinating efforts and supporting law enforcement to keep drugs off the streets
    Mary Taylor will leverage the relationships she has established with the Trump Administration as well as the leaders of the Great Lakes states and provinces to develop a collaborative approach to stopping illegal drugs at our borders; to collecting, sharing, and utilizing data; and to taking drug dealers and distributors off the streets. She will also fund new narcotics officers and other resources to level the playing field for law enforcement.

    Raising awareness and addressing mental health challenges
    Knowing that the stigma associated with addiction has undermined prevention efforts, Taylor will build on the successful Start Talking! initiative and use her own story to raise awareness. In addition, her Mental Health director will convene the leading minds on mental health to identify real, actionable ways to intervene when a person demonstrates mental health symptoms that can be indicators of future addiction risk, and to address the trauma of the generation of children being born to today’s addicts.

    Mary's Tax Plan
    In the time that Mary Taylor has been Lt. Governor, taxes have been reduced by $5 billion, the largest tax cut in the country. Income taxes have been virtually eliminated for small businesses and the burdensome estate tax has been entirely eliminated. Still, individuals and businesses throughout the state struggle to understand and comply with Ohio’s tax system.

    Reduce the Income Tax Form to the Size of a Postcard
    The 1972 individual income tax return was the size of a postcard, and the instructions were 18 pages long. The 2016 individual income tax return was 11 full-size pages, with 60 pages of instructions. Simplicity equals compliance, and it should be as easy as possible for people to pay taxes. Returning to the simplicity of 1972’s tax forms will reduce the cost of compliance for Ohio taxpayers and reduce the state’s cost to administer the tax.

    Letting Ohioans Keep their Money by Fixing Ohio's Withholding Tables
    Today’s tax withholding tables require that employers over-withhold nearly 20% more taxes from employee wages than will ultimately be due. This forces wage earners to provide Ohio with an interest-free loan until April 15th of the following year. Mary Taylor will order the Tax Commissioner to adjust the withholding tables to better reflect the amount of tax that will actually be due, thereby allowing taxpayers to keep their money.

    Not Pulling the Rug Out From Under Taxpayers
    At times, audits have undermined the way a tax policy has been understood by taxpayers for years. As a result, taxpayers who have acted in good faith are often caught off guard and are forced to pay several years of back taxes, interest, and penalties – even when following well-accepted practices. The Taylor Administration will respect accepted interpretations, will use the legislative process to change tax policy, and will not retroactively apply tax policy changes. Taxpayers should never be penalized for good-faith efforts to comply.

    Fighting For, Not Against, Taxpayers
    Taxpayers need an independent advocate committed to helping them comply and advocating for changes to tax law, policy, and departmental decisions when taxpayers are treated unfairly. Mary Taylor will create a taxpayer advocacy office, independent of the Tax Department hierarchy, to ensure fairness to the Ohio taxpayers. [10]

    		”
    —Taylor Estruth for Ohio[12]


    Endorsements

    Republican candidate endorsements
    Endorsement Date DeWine Taylor
    National figures
    Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)[13] April 19, 2018 ✔
    Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY)[14] April 5, 2018 ✔
    Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)[15] March 6, 2018 ✔
    Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT)[16] March 5, 2018 ✔
    Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)[17] October 19, 2017 ✔
    State figures
    State Rep. Gary Scherer (R)[18] March 10, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Kirk Schuring (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Sarah LaTourette (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Thomas Patton (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Bill Reineke (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Scott Wiggam (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Theresa Gavarone (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Bob Cupp (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Tim Ginter (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Marlene Anielski (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Dave Greenspan (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Mike Duffey (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Laura Lanese (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Jonathan Dever (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Louis W. Blessing, III (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Anthony DeVitis (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Kristina Daley Roegner (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Michael Henne (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Niraj Antani (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. George Lang (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Nathan Manning (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Dick Stein (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Scott Lipps (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Andrew Brenner (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Rick Carfagna (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Steve Hambley (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Darrell Kick (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Scott Ryan (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Larry Householder (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Rick Perales (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Bill Dean (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Tim Schaffer (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Kyle Koehler (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Stephen Huffman (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. James Hoops (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Craig Riedel (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Dorothy Pelanda (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Riordan McClain (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Steven Arndt (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Ryan Smith (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Brian Hill (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    State Rep. Al Landis (R)[19] February 20, 2018 ✔
    Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R)[20] January 23, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Troy Balderson (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Kevin Bacon (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Bill Beagle (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Dave Burke (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Matt Dolan (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. John Eklund (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Randy Gardner (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Robert Hackett (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Frank Hoagland (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Jay Hottinger (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Peggy Lehner (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Gayle L. Manning (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Robert McColley (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Scott Oelslager (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Joe Uecker (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Sen. Bob Peterson (R)[21] January 18, 2018 ✔
    State Senate President Larry Obhof (R)[22] January 12, 2018 ✔
    Gov. John Kasich (R)[23] July 7, 2017 ✔
    Local figures
    Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb[24] April 24, 2018 ✔
    Cincinnati City Councilwoman Amy Murray (R)[25] January 16, 2018 ✔
    Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones[26] January 9, 2018 ✔
    Organizations
    The Courier[27] April 26, 2018 ✔
    Akron Beacon Journal[28] April 21, 2018 ✔
    The Plain Dealer[29] April 15, 2018 ✔
    Ohio Restaurant Association[30] March 13, 2018 ✔
    Miami County Republican Party[31] March 11, 2018 ✔
    Ohio Value Voters[32] February 16, 2018 ✔
    Ohio Right to Life PAC[33] February 12, 2018 ✔
    Republican Party of Ohio[34] February 9, 2018 ✔
    Buckeye Firearms Association[35] February 7, 2018 ✔
    Clermont County Republican Party[21] January 17, 2018 ✔
    Franklin County Republican Party[36] December 6, 2017 ✔
    Securing Ohio's Future[37] November 30, 2017 ✔
    Morgan County Republican Party[38] November 21, 2017 ✔
    Summit County Republican Party[39] November 18, 2017 ✔
    Lucas County Republican Party[40] October 3, 2017 ✔

    Satellite spending

    Onward Ohio

    Onward Ohio was registered with the Federal Election Commission on December 12, 2016.[41] The group's website described its mission as "to champion the continuation of innovative and commonsense conservative policies and leadership in Ohio, so we can make our state an even better place to live, work and raise a family."[42] The group, which supported Mary Taylor (R), reported $1.56 million in spending between January 1, 2017, and March 31, 2018.[43]

    Ohio Conservatives for Change

    On August 31, 2017, Ohio Conservatives for Change announced that it would spend $365,000 launching an ad campaign in support of Jon Husted's candidacy. The ad buy included $165,000 spent to reserve time during the September 1 season-opening football game between Ohio State University and Indiana University.[44]

    Debates and forums

    October 8 candidate forum

    On October 8, 2017, the four candidates seeking the Republican nomination for governor attended a candidate forum moderated by pollster Frank Luntz. The candidates made separate appearances on stage, where they were each interviewed by Luntz. Although the four Democratic candidates were also invited to attend the forum, each declined the invitation.

    In his interview with Luntz, Attorney General Mike DeWine proposed the creation of a cabinet-level position to confront the opioid crisis, suggesting that establishing such a position would be his first move as governor. DeWine also called for increased investment in job training programs and for increased access to voucher programs and charter schools. Secretary of State Jon Husted referred to his prior experience as speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives as an advantage that he argued would help him enact policy if he were elected governor. Like DeWine, Husted advocated for increased investment in vocational training and identified jobs and education as major issues facing the state. Rep. Jim Renacci called for the passage of a law making Ohio a right to work state as well as cuts to taxes and spending, promising to veto any bill which would increase spending. Renacci was also critical of sitting Gov. John Kasich's decision to expand Medicaid, arguing that it was not sustainable. Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor called for decreases in tax rates and opposition to proposals to outlaw the use of bump stocks. Taylor also discussed the opioid crisis, referring to her two sons' struggle with opiate addiction.[45][46]

    Campaign tactics and strategies

    Campaign advertisements

    Republican Party Mike DeWine

    Support
    "Best Friends" - DeWine campaign ad, released April 2, 2018
    "Rock Solid" - DeWine campaign ad, released March 30, 2018
    "Fight the Crisis" - DeWine campaign ad, released November 8, 2017
    Oppose
    "One Number" - Taylor campaign ad, released April 25, 2018
    "962" - Taylor campaign ad, released April 13, 2018
    "Voting" - Taylor campaign ad, released March 29, 2018
    "'76" - Taylor campaign ad, released March 8, 2018


    Republican Party Mary Taylor


    Oppose
    "DeWine Promises Final" - DeWine campaign ad, released April 18, 2018


    Campaign finance

    Following is campaign finance information obtained from the Ohio Secretary of State's database covering all contributions to and expenditures by the DeWine and Taylor campaigns between January 1, 2018, and April 18, 2018. Also included are the campaigns' cash reserves as of April 18, 2018.

    Race ratings

    See also: Race rating definitions and methods
    Race ratings: Ohio gubernatorial election, 2018
    Race tracker Race ratings
    November 5, 2018 October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018
    The Cook Political Report Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
    Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales Toss-up Tilt RepublicanTilt RepublicanTilt Republican
    Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball Toss-up Toss-upToss-upToss-up
    Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

    Polls

    See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
    Ohio Governor 2018, Republican primary
    Poll Mike DeWine Mary TaylorUndecided/OtherMargin of errorSample size
    Remington Research Group for Taylor
    (April 10, 2018)    		 42%32%26%+/-3.11,064
    SurveyUSA
    (March 16-20, 2018)    		 50%18%31%+/-5.8541
    Fallon Research
    (January 16-19, 2018)    		 54%14%32%+/-3.5801
    AVERAGES 48.67% 21.33% 29.67% +/-4.13 802
    Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

    Past elections

    2014

    See also: Ohio gubernatorial election, 2014

    John Kasich ran for re-election as Governor of Ohio in the 2014 elections. Kasich won the Republican nomination in an unopposed primary on May 6, 2014.[47]


    State overview

    Partisan control

    This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Ohio heading into the 2018 elections.

    Congressional delegation

    State executives

    State legislature

    Trifecta status

    2018 elections

    See also: Ohio elections, 2018

    Ohio held elections for the following positions in 2018:

    Demographics

    Demographic data for Ohio
     OhioU.S.
    Total population:11,605,090316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):40,8613,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:82.4%73.6%
    Black/African American:12.2%12.6%
    Asian:1.9%5.1%
    Native American:0.2%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0%0.2%
    Two or more:2.5%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:3.4%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:89.1%86.7%
    College graduation rate:26.1%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$49,429$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:19.6%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Ohio.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

    As of July 2017, Ohio had a population of 11,700,000 people, with its three largest cities being Columbus (pop. est. 860,000), Cleveland (pop. est. 390,000), and Cincinnati (pop. est. 300,000).[48][49]

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Ohio from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Ohio Secretary of State.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Ohio every year from 2000 to 2016.

    Election results (President of the United States), Ohio 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Republican Party Donald Trump 52.1% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 43.5% 8.6%
    2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 50.7% Republican Party Mitt Romney 47.7% 3.0%
    2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 51.5% Republican Party John McCain 46.9% 4.6%
    2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 50.8% Democratic Party John Kerry 48.7% 2.1%
    2000 Republican Party George W. Bush 50.0% Democratic Party Al Gore 46.5% 3.5%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Ohio from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Ohio 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Republican Party Rob Portman 58.0% Democratic Party Ted Strickland 37.2% 20.8%
    2012 Democratic Party Sherrod Brown 50.7% Republican Party Josh Mandel 44.7% 6.0%
    2010 Republican Party Rob Portman 56.8% Democratic Party Lee Fisher 39.4% 17.4%
    2006 Democratic Party Sherrod Brown 56.2% Republican Party Mike DeWine 43.8% 12.4%
    2004 Republican Party George Voinovich 63.9% Democratic Party Eric Fingerhut 36.1% 27.8%
    2000 Republican Party Mike DeWine 59.9% Democratic Party Ted Celeste 35.9% 24.0%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Ohio.

    Election results (Governor), Ohio 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014 Republican Party John Kasich 63.6% Democratic Party Ed Fitzgerald 33.0% 30.6%
    2010 Republican Party John Kasich 49.0% Democratic Party Ted Strickland 47.0% 2.0%
    2006 Democratic Party Ted Strickland 60.5% Republican Party Ken Blackwell 36.6% 23.9%
    2002 Republican Party Robert Taft 57.8% Democratic Party Tim Hagan 38.3% 19.5%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Ohio in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Ohio 2000-2016
    Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
    2016 Republican Party 12 75.0% Democratic Party 4 25.0% R+8
    2014 Republican Party 12 75.0% Democratic Party 4 25.0% R+8
    2012 Republican Party 12 75.0% Democratic Party 4 25.0% R+8
    2010 Republican Party 13 72.2% Democratic Party 5 27.8% R+8
    2008 Republican Party 8 44.4% Democratic Party 10 55.6% D+2
    2006 Republican Party 11 61.1% Democratic Party 7 38.9% R+4
    2004 Republican Party 12 66.7% Democratic Party 6 33.3% R+6
    2002 Republican Party 12 66.7% Democratic Party 6 33.3% R+6
    2000 Republican Party 11 57.9% Democratic Party 8 42.1% R+3

    Trifectas, 1992-2017

    A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    Ohio Party Control: 1992-2024
    No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-six years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    Senate R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
    House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R


    Pivot Counties

    See also: Pivot Counties by state

    Nine of 88 Ohio counties—10.2 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Ashtabula County, Ohio 18.80% 12.78% 13.54%
    Erie County, Ohio 9.48% 12.29% 13.86%
    Montgomery County, Ohio 0.73% 4.62% 6.22%
    Ottawa County, Ohio 19.51% 4.30% 6.24%
    Portage County, Ohio 9.87% 5.52% 8.99%
    Sandusky County, Ohio 22.58% 2.71% 4.64%
    Stark County, Ohio 17.17% 0.47% 5.46%
    Trumbull County, Ohio 6.22% 23.00% 22.43%
    Wood County, Ohio 7.99% 4.84% 7.13%

    In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Ohio with 51.7 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 43.6 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Ohio cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 93.3 percent of the time (28 out of 30 elections), more than any other state in the country. In that same time frame, Ohio supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 60 to 40 percent. Between 2000 and 2016, Ohio voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election.

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Ohio. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[50][51]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 39 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 35.7 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 33 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 34 points. Clinton won seven districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 60 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 17.4 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 66 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 28.3 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

    Recent news

    The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Ohio governor Republican primary 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

    Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 (May 8 Republican primary) - Google News

    See also

    Ohio government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Politico, "Election Results - Ohio," accessed May 8, 2018
    2. ↑ Youtube, "Voting," March 29, 2018
    3. ↑ Youtube, "Rock Solid," March 30, 2018
    4. ↑ U.S. News, "Report: GOP's Mary Taylor Denies Kasich Backing to GOP Group," January 24, 2018
    5. ↑ The Plain Dealer, "Mike DeWine-Jon Husted ticket an Ohio political master stroke: Thomas Suddes," December 2, 2017
    6. ↑ Dayton Daily News, "Mike DeWine running for governor," June 25, 2017
    7. ↑ DeWine for Governor, "About," accessed February 26, 2018
    8. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Mary Taylor announces run for Ohio governor in 2018," July 7, 2017
    9. ↑ Mary Taylor for Governor, "Home," accessed February 26, 2018
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    11. ↑ Mike DeWine for Governor, "Mike DeWine's 'Recovery Ohio' Plan," accessed April 1, 2018
    12. ↑ Mary Taylor for Governor, "Home," accessed February 26, 2018
    13. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Ted Cruz endorses Mary Taylor for Ohio governor," April 19, 2018
    14. ↑ Toledo Blade, "Mary Taylor claims endorsement of Rand Paul," April 5, 2018
    15. ↑ Twitter, "Mary Taylor," March 6, 2018
    16. ↑ Twitter, "Mary Taylor," March 5, 2018
    17. ↑ FOX 45 Now, "Former presidential candidate Rick Santorum endorses Mike DeWine for Ohio Governor," October 19, 2017
    18. ↑ Circleville Herald, "Scherer endorses DeWine at Lincoln Day Dinner," March 10, 2018
    19. ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 19.14 19.15 19.16 19.17 19.18 19.19 19.20 19.21 19.22 19.23 19.24 19.25 19.26 19.27 19.28 19.29 19.30 19.31 19.32 19.33 19.34 19.35 19.36 19.37 19.38 19.39 19.40 19.41 Mike DeWine for Governor, "More Than 60% of the Ohio House Republican Caucus Endorses Mike DeWine for Governor," February 20, 2018
    20. ↑ AP, "Ohio ex-official Blackwell backs GOP's Taylor for governor," January 23, 2018
    21. ↑ 21.00 21.01 21.02 21.03 21.04 21.05 21.06 21.07 21.08 21.09 21.10 21.11 21.12 21.13 21.14 21.15 21.16 21.17 The Columbus Dispatch, "Three-fourths of Ohio Senate Republicans endorse DeWine," January 18, 2018
    22. ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Ohio Senate president endorses DeWine for governor," January 12, 2018
    23. ↑ U.S. News, "Gov. Kasich's Backing a Mixed Blessing for GOP's Mary Taylor," July 7, 2017
    24. ↑ Mike DeWine for Governor, "Bubb endorses DeWine for governor," April 24, 2018
    25. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Former Renacci running mate backs Mike DeWine in governor's race," January 16, 2018
    26. ↑ WFMJ, "DeWine under fire for controversial endorsement," January 9, 2018
    27. ↑ The Courier, "For governor," April 26, 2018
    28. ↑ Akron Beacon Journal, "Beacon Journal/Ohio.com editorial board: Ready for the governor’s office, Richard Cordray and Mike DeWine," April 21, 2018
    29. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Mike DeWine in the Republican primary for Ohio governor: endorsement editorial," April 15, 2018
    30. ↑ Ohio Restaurant Association, "News Release: ORA Endorses Mike DeWine for Governor," March 13, 2018
    31. ↑ Dayton Daily News, "Miami County GOP endorses Taylor for Ohio governor," March 11, 2018
    32. ↑ Mike DeWine for Governor, "Ohio Value Voters Endorses Mike DeWine for Governor," February 16, 2018
    33. ↑ Life News, "Ohio Pro-Life Group Endorses Pro-Life Candidate Mike DeWine for Governor," February 12, 2018
    34. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Ohio Republican Party endorses Mike DeWine for governor, Jim Renacci for U.S. Senate," February 9, 2018
    35. ↑ Facebook, "Mike DeWine," February 7, 2018
    36. ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Newcomer Gibbons upsets Mandel for Franklin County GOP nod," December 6, 2017
    37. ↑ Securing Ohio's Future, "CONSERVATIVE ADVOCACY GROUP FIRST TO ENDORSE DEWINE/HUSTED TICKET," November 30, 2017
    38. ↑ Zanesville Times-Recorder, "Morgan County Republicans endorse DeWine," November 21, 2017
    39. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Summit County Republican Party endorses Mike DeWine for governor," November 18, 2017
    40. ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Lucas County GOP endorses DeWine for governor," October 3, 2017
    41. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Statement of Organization," accessed April 22, 2018
    42. ↑ Onward Ohio, "Home," accessed April 22, 2018
    43. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Onward Ohio," accessed April 22, 2018
    44. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Pro-Husted Super PAC launching statewide TV ad buy during Ohio State University football game," August 30, 2017
    45. ↑ Dayton Daily News, "4 Republicans running for Ohio governor talk guns, religion and Kasich," October 8, 2017
    46. ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "GOP governor hopefuls outline visions for Ohio at forum," October 9, 2017
    47. ↑ Politico, "2014 Ohio Governor Election Results," accessed Oct. 4, 2015
    48. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts - Ohio," accessed April 4, 2018
    49. ↑ Ohio Demographics, "Ohio Cities by Population," accessed April 4, 2018
    50. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
    51. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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