The 1994 United States Senate election in Ohio took place on November 8, 1994. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Howard Metzenbaum decided to retire after 19 years in the United States Senate. Republican nominee Mike DeWine won the open seat against Democratic nominee Joel Hyatt, Metzenbaum's son-in-law. Independent candidate, conservative anti-abortion activist Joe Slovenec performed very well, getting over 7% of the vote. DeWine was the first Republican to win a U.S. Senate race in Ohio since 1970.