United States Senate election in Ohio (May 8, 2018 Republican primary)

Elections in Ohio, 2018

* General election: Nov. 6
* Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
* Early voting: Oct. 10 - Nov. 5
* Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

* Online registration: Yes
* Same-day registration: No
* Voter ID: Non-photo ID required
* Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

* * *

On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Congressional special elections • Governor • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • Municipal • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries

<- 2016

U.S. Senate, Ohio

Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: February 7, 2018
Primary: May 8, 2018
General: November 6, 2018

* * *

Pre-election incumbent:
Sherrod Brown (Democrat)
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in Ohio
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Likely Democratic
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Democratic
Inside Elections: Solid Democratic
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
U.S. Senate, Ohio
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 12th (special)
Ohio elections, 2018
U.S. Congress elections, 2018
U.S. Senate elections, 2018
U.S. House elections, 2018

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U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci won the primary and faced U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) in the general election. Brown's seat is one of 10 Democratic Senate seats in states that Donald Trump won in 2016.

This page focuses on the Republican primary. For an overview of the election in general, click here.

Renacci and businessman Mike Gibbons were the major contenders in the Republican primary following the withdrawal of Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel in January over his wife's health concerns.[1] After Mandel withdrew, Renacci left the 2018 Ohio gubernatorial race to run for Senate at the prodding of President Donald Trump (R).[2] Read more about Mandel's withdrawal and Renacci's entry by clicking here.

Ohio voter? Here's what you need to know.

Primary election| May 8, 2018
Candidate filing deadline| February 7, 2018
Registration deadline| April 9, 2018
Absentee application deadline| May 5, 2018
General election| November 6, 2018
Voting information
Primary type| Open
Early voting deadline| May 7, 2018
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day.

For more on related elections, please see:

* United States Senate election in Ohio (May 8, 2018 Democratic primary)
* United States Senate election in Ohio, 2018
* United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2018
* United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2018
* Democratic Party primaries in Ohio, 2018
* Republican Party primaries in Ohio, 2018

## Contents

* 1 Candidates and election results
* 2 Noteworthy events
* 2.1 Mandel withdrawal in January 2018
* 2.1.1 Withdrawal
* 2.1.2 Aftermath
* 3 How did the candidates differ?
* 3.1 Ties to President Donald Trump (R)
* 3.2 Renacci vs. Gibbons
* 3.3 Issues
* 3.3.1 Abortion
* 4 Endorsements
* 4.1 Josh Mandel
* 5 Campaign strategies and tactics
* 5.1 On the campaign trail
* 5.1.1 Mike Gibbons
* 5.1.2 Jim Renacci
* 5.2 Campaign ads
* 5.2.1 Mike Gibbons
* 5.2.1.1 Support
* 6 Who was supposed to win?
* 7 Media coverage
* 8 Voter information
* 8.1 How the primary works
* 8.2 Poll times
* 8.3 Early voting
* 8.4 Absentee voting
* 8.5 Registration requirements
* 8.6 Automatic registration
* 8.7 Online registration
* 8.8 Same-day registration
* 8.9 Residency requirements
* 8.10 Verification of citizenship
* 8.11 Verifying your registration
* 8.12 Voter ID requirements
* 8.12.1 Background
* 9 State overview
* 9.1 Partisan control
* 9.1.1 Congressional delegation
* 9.1.2 State executives
* 9.1.3 State legislature
* 9.1.4 Trifecta status
* 9.2 2018 elections
* 9.3 Demographics
* 10 State election history
* 10.1 Historical elections
* 10.1.1 Presidential elections, 2000-2016
* 10.1.2 U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
* 10.1.3 Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
* 10.1.4 Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
* 10.1.5 Trifectas, 1992-2017
* 11 See also
* 12 Footnotes

## Candidates and election results[edit]

See also: Statistics on U.S. Congress candidates, 2018

Jim Renacci defeated Mike Gibbons, Melissa Ackison, Dan Kiley, and Don Eckhart in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Ohio on May 8, 2018.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for U.S. Senate Ohio

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Jim Renacci |

47.3

| 363,622

| Mike Gibbons |

31.7

| 243,426

| Melissa Ackison |

13.1

| 100,543

| Dan Kiley |

4.0

| 30,684

| Don Eckhart |

3.9

| 29,796

* * *

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

| Total votes: 768,071

|
|

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

#### Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

* Josh Mandel (R)

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Mandel withdrawal in January 2018[edit]

#### Withdrawal[edit]

Josh Mandel announced he was withdrawing from the race on January 5, 2018. The letter he sent announcing his withdrawal said the following:[1]

“  |

We recently learned that my wife has a health issue that will require my time, attention and presence. In other words, I need to be there.

Understanding and dealing with this health issue is more important to me than any political campaign. For as long as that takes, whether it is months or years, it is important that I heed my dad’s advice and be there for my wife and our kids.

After recent discussions with our family and healthcare professionals, it has become clear to us that it’s no longer possible for me to be away from home and on the campaign trail for the time needed to run a US Senate race.

Therefore, I’m writing today to let you know that I am ending my campaign for US Senate in order to be there for my wife and our three children. This was a difficult decision for us, but it’s the right one.[3]

|  ”

|
|

—Josh Mandel

Before he withdrew from the race on January 5, 2018, Mandel, who previously won his party's nomination for the Senate in 2012, raised $3.5 million through the third quarter of 2017. According to an internal poll from Mandel's campaign in September 2017, he had 50 percent support with rivals Mike Gibbons and Melissa Ackison polling at 5 percent each.[4] As of January 4, 2018, Mandel had received endorsements from six Republican U.S. senators, including Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Tom Cotton. He also received support from the Club for Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund.[5]

Mandel aligned himself with President Donald Trump (R) in his campaign. Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R), a Trump opponent who did not endorse his 2016 presidential campaign, suggested that he would not endorse Mandel.[6] Mandel opposed Kasich's expansion of Medicaid in Ohio and his proposal to increase taxes on fracking.[7]

#### Aftermath[edit]

After Mandel's withdrawal, candidate Mike Gibbons said that he would be the strongest candidate to run against Sherrod Brown in 2018. According to Cincinnati.com, possible replacements for Mandel included Gov. John Kasich, Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, or U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci. At the time of Mandel's withdrawal, Renacci and Taylor were both running for governor.[1] A spokesman for Kasich said he was not interested in running and said the governor had "bigger fish to fry."[8][9]

On January 8, 2018, Renacci said that he would consider ending his gubernatorial bid and running for the U.S. Senate seat if President Donald Trump (R) asked him to run.[10]

Also on January 8, Politico reported that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had spoken with J.D. Vance, the author of the novel Hillbilly Elegy, about running for the seat.[11]

On January 9, Gibbons said that he would put $5 million of his own money into the race.[12]

On January 11, Renacci announced that he was leaving the Ohio gubernatorial race and entering the U.S. Senate race. He said that he made the decision to run after having conversations with members of the Trump administration.[2]

On January 15, the Washington Times reported that Gov. Kasich was possibly attempting to recruit a candidate to run against Renacci and Gibbons in the primary.[13]

On January 19, J.D. Vance announced that he would not run for the Senate.[14]

## How did the candidates differ?[edit]

### Ties to President Donald Trump (R)[edit]

On February 5, 2018, President Donald Trump (R) visited Ohio and attended an event with Renacci. At the event, he said, "We want to get Jim in," Trump said. He told Renacci to "Get in there and fight. We need you." Renacci said that Trump encouraged him to run after Josh Mandel dropped out.

Renacci's campaign said that Trump's statements amounted to an endorsement of his campaign. Gibbons' campaign disputed that and said that Gibbons' role as a co-chair of Trump's presidential campaign in Ohio meant that he could have the support of the president. The White House did not respond to Cincinatti.com's attempt to clarify Trump's remarks.[15]

Trump officially endorsed Renacci on April 24, tweeting that Renacci had "worked so hard on Tax Reductions, Illegal Immigration, the Border and Crime. I need Jim very badly to help our agenda and to keep MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! He will be a fantastic Senator for the Great State of Ohio, and has my full endorsement!"[16]

### Renacci vs. Gibbons[edit]

U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and businessman Mike Gibbons came into conflict on the following issues:

* On January 7, which was after Josh Mandel dropped out of the Senate race but before Renacci announced for the Senate, Gibbons' campaign announced that 16 supporters of Renacci's gubernatorial bid supported his bid for the Senate. Renacci's campaign later said that the endorsements were related to a former Renacci staffer accessing internal documents from his gubernatorial campaign and sharing them with the Gibbons campaign.[17]
* On January 13, the Renacci campaign filed a report with the Wadsworth Police Department claiming that a former staffer on the Renacci gubernatorial campaign who joined the Gibbons Senate campaign in October 2017 used her access to her Renacci campaign email to access documents about Renacci supporters. Gibbons' campaign responded to the report with the following statement: "It is shocking that Jim Renacci, who has been part of FBI investigations into campaign finance fraud, would do this to one of his most valued volunteers, apparently because she would not support his campaign. The apparent lesson is don’t volunteer for Jim Renacci."[17]

### Issues[edit]

#### Abortion[edit]

In June 2017, the Associated Press reported that Mike Gibbons had said he was "a pro-people person who’s not dogmatic” when it came to social issues such as abortion. He also said that he personally opposed abortion but that, because he is a woman, he did not think he should make a decision about abortion. After the AP report came out, Gibbons released a statement saing that he opposed abortion, supported defunding Planned Parenthood, and wanted the Supreme Court to overturn its ruling in Roe v. Wade that permitted some abortions.[18]

On his campaign website, Renacci indicated that he opposes abortion.[19]

## Endorsements[edit]

Know of an endorsement? Email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Republican candidate endorsements

Endorsement  | Date  | Gibbons | Renacci
Federal officials
President Donald Trump[16] | April 24, 2018 |  | ✔
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Oh.)[20] | January 29, 2018 |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. David Joyce (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Oh.)[21] | January 19, 2018  |  | ✔
State officials
State Treasurer Josh Mandel (R)[20] |  January 29, 2018  |  | ✔
Organizations
We the People[22] | Unknown |  ✔ |
Franklin County Republican Party[1] | Unknown | ✔ |
Citizens for Trump[23] |  October 17, 2017  | ✔ |
Ohio Republican Party[24] |  February 9, 2018 |  | ✔
Party activists
Joy Padgett, Chairwoman of Ohio Women for Trump[25] | December 13, 2017 | ✔ |

#### Josh Mandel[edit]

Mandel received the following endorsements from U.S. senators before he withdrew from the race:

* Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)[26]
* Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)[26]
* Sen. Mike Lee, (R-Utah)[27]
* Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)[26]
* Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)[26]
* Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)[27]

He also received support from the Club for Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund.[28]

## Campaign strategies and tactics[edit]

### On the campaign trail[edit]

Both candidates touted their support for Trump and attempted to run similar outsider campaigns. According to Ohio Republican strategist Mark Weaver, "Who can play the role of the angry business owner better — Jim Renacci or Mike Gibbons? That is what this race will come down to. Renacci has a little bit of time to frame himself as the angry businessman who went to Washington to stir things up and retain his street cred as an outsider.”[13]

####  Mike Gibbons[edit]

* In response to Renacci's claim that he was prodded to run by President Donald Trump (R), Gibbons spokesman Chris Schrimpf said, “Mike Gibbons is the only conservative outsider in the race. Jim Renacci is a Washington insider and career politician who is so desperate to keep office that he can’t even decide what office to run for.”[13]
* Gibbons' advisers included Michael Biundo and Chris Schrimpf, both of whom worked on Gov. Kasich's presidential bid in 2016.[29]

####  Jim Renacci[edit]

* On January 22, Renacci told the Vindicator that President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence would come to Ohio to campaign for him.[30]

### Campaign ads[edit]

#### Mike Gibbons[edit]

##### Support[edit]

"Serve the People of Ohio" - Gibbons campaign ad, released August 30, 2017

"Vacation" - Gibbons campaign ad, released September 12, 2017

"Solutions, Not Sound Bites" - Gibbons campaign ad, releasedMarch 31, 2017

## Who was supposed to win?[edit]

Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Ohio, 2018

Race tracker| Race ratings
| October 30, 2018| October 23, 2018| October 16, 2018| October 9, 2018
The Cook Political Report| Likely Democratic| Likely Democratic| Likely Democratic| Likely Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales| Solid Democratic| Likely Democratic| Likely Democratic| Likely Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball| Likely Democratic| Likely Democratic| Likely Democratic| Likely Democratic
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

## Media coverage[edit]

This section provides an overview of media reactions to the U.S. Senate Republican primary in Ohio.[31] Selected articles are presented as a jumping-off point for deeper exploration of media coverage and as an overview of narratives that have emerged surrounding the elections.

* Jason Williams, Cincinatti.com, January 16, 2018

"Renacci is trying really hard – maybe too hard – to make Ohioans think he's a Donald Trump protege. Trump with poofy dark hair. Like the president, Renacci is a businessman who hasn't spent his entire career in politics. Trump did give Renacci his blessing last week to switch from running for governor to the Senate race, five days after Mandel abruptly dropped out. For Congressman from Northeast Ohio, the switch hinged on the blessing. Renacci isn't the only Trump wannabe in politics. It's common for Republicans running in Trump territory these days. But the bottom line: Renacci isn't a political outsider. He's not a populist. He's not a larger-than-life personality. He's not a guy known for creating a lot of drama.

...

"Renacci has a good story. He grew up in working-class home, the son of a railroad-worker in western Pennsylvania. He's a smart businessman who had his Chevrolet dealership yanked from him during the recession. He has good experience in public office. What's wrong with just being Jim Renacci?"[32]

* Howard Wilkinson, WVXU, January 21, 2018

"Kyle Kondik, an Ohioan is who is managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, a highly-regarded weekly politics newsletter published by the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, is not convinced that Renacci is unbeatable in a GOP primary.

'Mandel was a candidate who didn't have a federal voting record that could come back to haunt him, Kondik said. 'Neither does Gibbons. But Renacci has been in the House since 2011. I don't consider Jim Renacci a lock for the nomination." Republican voters in Ohio, Kondik said, "have a long history of voting for Republican businessmen who are political novices. They win a lot. And that is what Gibbons is.'[33]

## Voter information[edit]

### How the primary works[edit]

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Ohio utilizes an open primary system. In an open primary system, a voter does not have to register with a political party beforehand in order to vote in that party's primary. In Ohio, voters select their preferred party primary ballots at their polling places on Election Day.[34][35][36][37]

### Poll times[edit]

In Ohio, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Voters who are in line at 7:30 p.m. are permitted to vote.[38]

### Early voting[edit]

Ohio permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

As of April 2021, 38 states and the District of Columbia permitted early voting. Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on election day. States that do not permit early voting still permit some or all citizens to vote early by mail—often known as absentee voting. Some states allow no-excuse absentee voting, while others require an excuse. States that allow in-person absentee voting without an excuse are counted among early voting states. Click here for early voting laws by state.[39]

### Absentee voting[edit]

All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Ohio. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[40]

Absentee ballots may be requested for each individual election beginning on January 1, or 90 days before the date of an election, whichever is earlier. The request must be received by the local county board of elections by noon the third day before the election. A returned absentee ballot must then be postmarked at least one day before Election Day and received by the elections board no later than 10 days after the election.[40]

### Registration requirements[edit]

To register to vote in Ohio, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the election. Individuals who are incarcerated for a felony conviction, have been declared by a court to be incompetent for voting purposes, or have been permanently disenfranchised may not register to vote.[41] Applicants may register to vote online, in person, or by mail. The Ohio Voter Registration and Information Update Form is available online and can be requested by mail. In-person voter registration is available at various locations including the secretary of state and board of elections offices, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices, public libraries and high schools, and other state agencies. A full list of locations is available here. The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the next election.[42]

### Automatic registration[edit]

Ohio does not practice automatic voter registration.

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Ohio has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

### Same-day registration[edit]

Ohio does not allow same-day voter registration.

### Residency requirements[edit]

Prospective voters must be residents of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election.

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Ohio does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

### Voter ID requirements[edit]

Ohio requires voters to present identification while voting. Voters are also required to announce their full name and current address before voting.[43]

Voters can present the following forms of identification:

* Unexpired Ohio driver’s license or state identification card with address
* Military ID
* Photo ID issued by the United States government or the State of Ohio that has the voter’s name, current address, and an expiration date that has not passed
* Original or copy of a current utility bill with the voter’s name and address
* Original or copy of a current bank statement with the voter’s name and address
* Original or copy of a current government check with the voter’s name and address
* Original or copy of a current paycheck with the voter’s name and address
* Original or copy of a current other government document (other than a notice of voter registration mailed by a board of elections) that shows the voter’s name and address

#### Background[edit]

As of April 2021, 35 states enforced (or were scheduled to begin enforcing) voter identification requirements. A total of 21 states required voters to present photo identification at the polls; the remainder accepted other forms of identification. Valid forms of identification differ by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.[44][45]

## State overview[edit]

### Partisan control[edit]

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

#### Congressional delegation[edit]

* Following the 2016 elections, Democrats and Republicans each held one U.S. Senate seat in Ohio.
* Republicans held 11 of 16 U.S. House seats in Ohio.

#### State executives[edit]

* As of May 2018, Republicans held six out of six elected state executive positions.
* The governor of Ohio was Republican John Kasich.

#### State legislature[edit]

* Republicans controlled both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly. They had a 23-9 majority in the state Senate and a 66-32 majority in the state House.

#### Trifecta status[edit]

* Ohio was under Republican trifecta control since the governor was a Republican and both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly were under Republican control.

### 2018 elections[edit]

See also: Ohio elections, 2018

Ohio held elections for the following positions in 2018:

* One U.S. Senate seat
* 16 U.S. House seats
* Governor and lieutenant governor
* Five other state executive offices
* 17 out of 33 state Senate seats
* 99 state House seats
* Two of seven state Supreme Court seats
* Municipal elections in Cuyahoga, Fairfield, Franklin, Hamilton, and Lucas counties, as well as the city of Toledo

### Demographics[edit]

Demographic data for Ohio

| Ohio| U.S.
Total population:| 11,605,090| 316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):| 40,861| 3,531,905
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).[46][47]

## State election history[edit]

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[edit]

#### Presidential elections, 2000-2016[edit]

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  |  Donald Trump |  52.1%  |  Hillary Clinton |  43.5%  |  8.6%
2012  |  Barack Obama |  50.7%  |  Mitt Romney |  47.7%  |  3.0%
2008  |  Barack Obama |  51.5%  |  John McCain |  46.9%  |  4.6%
2004  |  George W. Bush |  50.8%  |  John Kerry |  48.7%  |  2.1%
2000  |  George W. Bush |  50.0%  |  Al Gore |  46.5%  |  3.5%

#### U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016[edit]

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  |  Rob Portman |  58.0%  |  Ted Strickland |  37.2%  |  20.8%
2012  |  Sherrod Brown |  50.7%  |  Josh Mandel |  44.7%  | 6.0%
2010  |  Rob Portman |  56.8%  |  Lee Fisher |  39.4%  |  17.4%
2006  |  Sherrod Brown |  56.2%  |  Mike DeWine |  43.8%  | 12.4%
2004  |  George Voinovich |  63.9%  |  Eric Fingerhut |  36.1%  |  27.8%
2000  |  Mike DeWine |  59.9%  |  Ted Celeste |  35.9%  |  24.0%

#### Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016[edit]

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  |  John Kasich |  63.6%  |  Ed Fitzgerald |  33.0%  |  30.6%
2010  |  John Kasich |  49.0%  |  Ted Strickland |  47.0%  |  2.0%
2006  |  Ted Strickland |  60.5%  |  Ken Blackwell |  36.6%  |  23.9%
2002  |  Robert Taft |  57.8%  |  Tim Hagan |  38.3%  |  19.5%

#### Congressional delegation, 2000-2016[edit]

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  |  12 |  75.0%  |  4 |  25.0%  | R+8
2014  |  12 |  75.0%  |  4 |  25.0%  | R+8
2012  |  12 |  75.0%  |  4 |  25.0%  | R+8
2010  |  13 |  72.2%  |  5 |  27.8%  | R+8
2008  |  8 |  44.4%  |  10 |  55.6%  | D+2
2006  |  11 |  61.1%  |  7 |  38.9%  | R+4
2004  |  12 |  66.7%  |  6 |  33.3%  | R+6
2002  |  12 |  66.7%  |  6 |  33.3%  | R+6
2000  |  11 |  57.9%  |  8 |  42.1%  | R+3

#### Trifectas, 1992-2017[edit]

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

Ohio Party Control: 1992-2021
No Democratic trifectas • Twenty-three 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

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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
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
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

## See also[edit]

* United States Senate election in Ohio, 2018
* United States Senate election in Ohio (2018 Democratic primary)
* United States Senate elections, 2018
* United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2018

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cincinatti.com, "Republican U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel drops out of U.S. Senate race," January 5, 2018
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cleveland.com, "Jim Renacci drops out of the Ohio governor's race to run for Senate," January 11, 2018
3. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
4. ↑ The Hill, "Mandel leads GOP primary for Ohio Senate seat: internal poll," September 29, 2017
5. ↑ Politico, "Mandel drops out of Ohio Senate race vs. Sherrod Brown," January 5, 2018
6. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Rob Portman endorses Josh Mandel for U.S. Senate," May 24, 2017
7. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Josh Mandel's cheap shots at Gov. Kasich could be about to backfire: Brent Larkin," May 12, 2016
8. ↑ Politico, "Mandel drops out of Ohio Senate race vs. Sherrod Brown," January 5, 2018
9. ↑ Toledo Blade, "Gibbons trying to nail down front-runner status in GOP primary for U.S. Senate," January 9, 2018
10. ↑ Columbus Dispatch, "If Trump says to jump, Renacci will run for Senate instead of governor," January 8, 2018
11. ↑ Politico, "'Hillbilly Elegy' author Vance urged to run for Senate," January 8, 2018
12. ↑ WOSU, "Gibbons Gives Himself $5 Million Boost After Mandel Leaves U.S. Senate Race," January 9, 2018
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Washington Times, "Kasich expected to field GOP candidate in Ohio Senate race," January 15, 2018
14. ↑ WCPO, "'Hillbilly Elegy' author J.D. Vance decides against Senate run in Ohio," January 19, 2018
15. ↑ Cincinatti.com, "Did Trump just endorse Jim Renacci in Cincinnati? And will that help or hurt his bid to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown?," February 6, 2018
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 The Hill, "Trump backs Renacci in Ohio Senate race," April 24, 2018
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Columbus Dispatch, "Renacci team accuses ex-staffer of feeding Gibbons campaign internal documents," January 15, 2018
18. ↑ Washington Times, "US Senate candidate met with quick $250K, abortion pushback," June 7, 2017
19. ↑ renacciforohiofirst.com, "Issues," accessed January 17, 2018
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Akron Beacon Journal, "Portman, Mandel back Ohio GOP Rep. Renacci for U.S. Senate," January 29, 2018
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7 21.8 21.9 Cleveland.com, "All sitting GOP members of U.S. House from Ohio endorse Jim Renacci," January 19, 2018
22. ↑ Toledo Blade, "Republican Senate race tighter with Renacci," January 25, 2018
23. ↑ Citizens for Trump, "CITIZENS FOR TRUMP PROUDLY ENDORSES MIKE GIBBONS FOR U.S. SENATE IN OHIO," October 17, 2017
24. ↑ Cleveland.com, "Ohio Republican Party endorses Mike DeWine for governor, Jim Renacci for U.S. Senate," February 9, 2018
25. ↑ Gibbons for Ohio, "Chair of Ohio Women for Trump, Joy Padgett, Endorses Mike Gibbons for U.S. Senate," December 13, 2017
26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Cleveland.com, "Ted Cruz endorses Josh Mandel for U.S. Senate," May 30, 2017
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Josh Mandel for Senate, "Senator Pat Toomey Endorses Josh Mandel for U.S. Senate," September 13, 2017
28. ↑ Politico, "Mandel drops out of Ohio Senate race vs. Sherrod Brown," January 5, 2018
29. ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Gibbons adds two more staffers with Kasich ties to campaign team," August 3, 2017
30. ↑ Vindicator, "Renacci said VP will be in Ohio to stump for him," January 23, 2018
31. ↑ In selecting articles for inclusion in this section, Ballotpedia has drawn from a variety of sources and viewpoints to identify articles that are representative of broader trends in media coverage.
32. ↑ Cincinatti.com, "PX: The challenge of being a Donald Trump wannabe in Ohio," January 16, 2018
33. ↑ WVXU, "Is This A Good Year To Be Running In Ohio As Trump's Candidate?," January 21, 2018
34. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 25, 2019
35. ↑ FairVote, "Primaries," accessed October 25, 2019
36. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
37. ↑ LAWriter Ohio Laws and Rules, "3501.01 Election procedure - election officials definitions.," accessed October 25, 2019
38. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, “Election Day Voting,” accessed October 17, 2019
39. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Laws Governing Early Voting," August 2, 2019
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "Voting Absentee by Mail," accessed October 15, 2019
41. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, “Voter Eligibility & Residency Requirements,” accessed October 4, 2019
42. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, “Register to Vote and Update Your Registration,” accessed October 4, 2019
43. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Identification requirements," accessed October 7, 2019
44. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Voter Identification Requirements|Voter ID Laws," June 5, 2017
45. ↑ The Washington Post, "Do I need an ID to vote? A look at the laws in all 50 states," October 27, 2014
46. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts - Ohio," accessed April 4, 2018
47. ↑ Ohio Demographics, "Ohio Cities by Population," accessed April 4, 2018

[show]

Ohio's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Sherrod Brown (D)

Rob Portman (R)

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Steve Chabot (R)

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Brad Wenstrup (R)

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Joyce Beatty (D)

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Jim Jordan (R)

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Bob Latta (R)

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Bill Johnson (R)

District 7

Bob Gibbs (R)

District 8

Warren Davidson (R)

District 9

Marcy Kaptur (D)

District 10

Michael Turner (R)

District 11

Shontel Brown (D)

District 12

Troy Balderson (R)

District 13

Tim Ryan (D)

District 14

David Joyce (R)

District 15

Mike Carey (R)

District 16

Anthony Gonzalez (R)

Republican Party (13)

Democratic Party (5)

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