2018 Ohio primary election update and summary

On Tuesday, May 8, 2018, Ohioans cast ballots in the 2018 primary election. For the first time since 2006, five statewide elected offices were up for election without an incumbent running in the 2018 general election. Below, we have compiled results of some races of particular note and will continue to closely watch these races and others as we move toward the general election in November. (A full list of results from the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate races with primary contests is also included.)

As results continue to come in, be advised that some of the information below may change. We will continue to update this publication as the boards of elections finalize results.

U.S. Senate

Congressman Jim Renacci (R-Wadsworth) successfully defeated Cleveland businessman Mike Gibbons for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator. Congressman Renacci received about 47 percent of the vote, while Mr. Gibbons received almost 32 percent of the vote. Congressman Renacci will face Democratic incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown in the November general election. Congressman Renacci branded himself as the “Trump” candidate, while Mr. Gibbons described himself as a moderate conservative outsider. President Trump publicly endorsed Congressman Renacci before the primary election.

U.S. House of Representatives

Former Republican Congressman Pat Tiberi retired from Congress in January 2018, and 17 candidates filed to fill his seat in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District. With a crowded Republican field for the special primary and primary elections, State Senator Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville) led his opponent in both races with about 29 percent of the vote for the special primary election for the unexpired term and 29 percent of the vote for the primary election for the new term. Challenger Melanie Leneghan, a township trustee and a vocal supporter of President Trump, was closely behind Senator Balderson as of the publication of this memo. Ms. Leneghan had the support of U.S. Congressman and former Chairman of the Freedom Caucus Jim Jordan. She received 28 percent of the vote in the special primary election for the unexpired term and about 28 percent in the primary election for the new term.

In the Democratic primaries, Franklin County Recorder Danny O’Connor Jr. emerged from a field of six candidates and will face the Republican nominee Senator Troy Balderson in both the special election on August 7, 2018, and the general election in November 2018. This election is expected to garner national attention as elections forecasters have been predicting a close contest for this normally-reliable Republican congressional district.

Current State Representative Christina Hagan (R-Alliance) ran against former Ohio State University football player Anthony Gonzalez for Congressman Renacci’s seat. Mr. Gonzalez, who has never held elected office before, won the Republican nomination for the Ohio’s 16^th Congressional District with about 53 percent of the vote.

Governor

Ohio’s Attorney General Mike DeWine and Secretary of State Jon Husted defeated Lt. Governor Mary Taylor and Nathan Estruth for the Republican nomination for Governor, receiving about 60 percent of the vote. The Republican primary was particularly heated between Attorney General DeWine and Lt. Governor Taylor. Lt. Governor Taylor branded herself as the “Trump” candidate. Lt. Governor Taylor called Attorney General DeWine to concede the election around 9:00 p.m.

Richard Cordray, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and a former Ohio Attorney General, prevailed in the Democratic Primary against former U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich, State Senator Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman) and former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill, among other Democratic opponents. Mr. Cordray received about 62 percent of the vote, beating early poll numbers by more than 10 points. The 2018 general election’s race for governor is a rematch of the 2010 election for Ohio Attorney General, where DeWine won a very close race against Cordray.

Treasurer

Two Republicans sought the nomination for state Treasurer. State Representative Robert Sprague (R-Findlay) defeated former treasurer for Ashtabula County Sandra O’Brien with about 60 percent of the vote. Ms. O’Brien had previously run for Ohio Treasurer of State in 2006 after winning a primary election over Republican State Treasurer Jennette Bradley. However, she was defeated in the 2006 general election by first-time successful statewide candidate Richard Cordray. Representative Sprague was the candidate officially endorsed by the Ohio Republican Party.

The Democratic nominee Rob Richardson was unopposed. Mr. Richardson is lawyer from Cincinnati and previously ran unsuccessfully to become Cincinnati’s mayor.

Attorney General

Auditor Dave Yost ran unopposed for the Republican nomination for Attorney General. Likewise, former U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Secretary of State

Both State Senator Frank LaRose (R-Hudson) and State Representative Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) were unopposed for the Republican and Democratic nomination for Secretary of State.

Auditor

Former Senate President and current State Representative Keith Faber (R-Celina) and former U.S. Congressman Zack Space (D-Dover) were both unopposed for their parties’ respective nominations.

Ohio Supreme Court

Neither of the two seats on the Ohio Supreme Court had contested primaries in the 2018 primary election. Republican Fifth District Court of Appeals Judge Craig Baldwin will face Democratic Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Donnelly to replace Justice Terrence O’Donnell. Earlier this year, Governor John Kasich appointed Justice Mary DeGenaro, previously of the Seventh District Court of Appeals, to replace Justice Bill O’Neill, who ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, for the remainder of the unexpired term. Justice DeGenaro will run against Democratic Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Melody Stewart for the new term.

Ohio House

There were 48 contested primaries for Ohio House of Representative seats. Notably, incumbent Representative Wes Retherford (R-Hamilton) was defeated by philanthropist Sara Carruthers. Former Representative Greg Jolivette, a former Hamilton mayor and Butler County commissioner, also ran in this primary for the Republican nomination against Representative Retherford. Incumbent Representative Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) won his primary against two challengers for the 42^nd House District, receiving about 63 percent of the vote.

After an intense primary election season, the House must now turn its attention to replacing former Speaker of the Ohio House Cliff Rosenberger who resigned in April. The race for interim Speaker of the House for the remainder of the 132^nd General Assembly is set for May 15, 2018.

Democrats also had several primaries in Ohio House seats. Business specialist Terrence Upchurch won an eight-person primary for the 10^th House District by 30 percent of the vote. Mr. Upchurch will likely be the next 10^th House District Representative, as there is no Republican challenger in the general election. Senator Mike Skindell (D-Lakewood) successfully defeated Thomas Bullock in the primary for the 13^th House District. Mr. Bullock was endorsed by the Cuyahoga Democratic Party and U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo).

Ohio Senate

Incumbents were generally successful in the primary election for Ohio Senate. Senator Robert McColley (R-Napoleon), who was appointed to represent the 1^st Senate District, won the primary by more than 61 percent of the vote. Likewise, Senator Steve Wilson (R-Maineville), who was also appointed to the Senate, defeated his primary challenger by 57 percent of the vote. Representatives Andrew Brenner (R-Powell) and Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) won their nominations to seek open seats in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) won his race against term-limited Representative John Barnes Jr. (D-Cleveland) for the 25^th Senate District with about 59 percent of the vote. Senators Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) and Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) were also successful in their primary elections. Representatives Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood), Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) and Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) won their primaries for open Senate seats. Representative Antonio defeated Representative Martin Sweeney (D-Cleveland) for the 23^rd Senate District nomination, receiving about 54 percent of the vote.

Issue 1 – Congressional Redistricting

Issue 1 passed by over 74 percent of the vote. This bipartisan congressional redistricting proposal establishes a three-tiered process where the General Assembly will get the first attempt at drawing a ten-year map. Issue 1 is a General Assembly initiated constitutional amendment. The General Assembly created this bipartisan plan to change congressional redistricting in Ohio throughout the first several months of 2018. The new map is required to keep 65 counties whole within congressional districts and can only divide up to 18 counties once and up to five counties twice. The proposed map must be approved by a supermajority of both chambers, including 50 percent of the minority party.

If the General Assembly fails to pass a congressional map with bipartisan support, the Ohio Redistricting Commission is able to draw a second draft of a map. The Ohio Redistricting Commission is composed of seven members. If the map cannot get two minority party members’ approval, the General Assembly receives the opportunity to draw another draft map. If the Ohio General Assembly fails to get one-third of the minority party to approve the map, it is only good for four years, instead of 10, and must adhere to stricter rules for splitting counties.

Ohio House of Representatives Candidates
*Primary election winners in bold.

Ohio Senate Candidates
*Primary election winners in bold

This is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be legal advice and does not create or imply an attorney-client relationship.