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U.S. Senate, 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: Sherrod Brown (Democrat) |
How to vote |
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voting in Ohio |
Race ratings |
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 • 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 |
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. | |
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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:
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.
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 |
Total votes: 768,071 | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
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]
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]
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]
U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and businessman Mike Gibbons came into conflict on the following issues:
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]
Know of an endorsement? Email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Republican candidate endorsements | |||||
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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 | ✔ |
Mandel received the following endorsements from U.S. senators before he withdrew from the race:
He also received support from the Club for Growth and the Senate Conservatives Fund.[28]
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]
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Race ratings: U.S. Senate election in Ohio, 2018 | |||||||||
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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. |
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.
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
Ohio does not practice automatic voter registration.
Ohio has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Ohio does not allow same-day voter registration.
Prospective voters must be residents of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election.
Ohio does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
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:
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]
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Ohio heading into the 2018 elections.
Ohio held elections for the following positions in 2018:
Demographic data for Ohio | ||
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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]
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.
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 | |||||
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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% |
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 | |||||
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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% |
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 | |||||
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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% |
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.
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.
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