The 2014 Ohio gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Republican Governor John Kasich won a second term by a landslide over Democratic candidate Ed FitzGerald and Green Party candidate Anita Rios. Primary elections were held on May 6, 2014.

Kasich's landslide victory gave him the highest percentage of the vote since George Voinovich's win in 1994, a large improvement from his narrow victory in 2010. , this was the last time the counties of Cuyahoga and Franklin voted for the Republican candidate and the last time Monroe County voted for the Democratic candidate.

This was one of the nine Republican-held governorships up for election in a state that Barack Obama won in the 2012 presidential election.

Background Kasich, who was elected with Tea Party support in 2010, faced considerable backlash from the movement. His decision to accept the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's expansion of Medicaid, his increased spending, taxation of fracking on Ohio farmland and perceived failure to go far enough on charter schools and school vouchers caused Tea Party groups to refuse to support his campaign. When Kasich passed over Tea Party leader Tom Zawistowski for the position of executive director of the Ohio Republican Party in favor of Matt Borges, who worked with a gay rights group, that was widely seen as the last straw. Tea Party groups announced they would support a primary challenger, or, if none emerged, the Libertarian nominee. Zawistowski said, "John Kasich is going to lose in 2014. We don't care who else wins." Ultimately, Kasich was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared John Kasich, incumbent governor Running mate: Mary Taylor, incumbent lieutenant governor

Withdrawn Donald Allen, veterinarian and candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 Running mate: Kelly Kohls, education activist and chair of the Warren County Tea Party Ted Stevenot, president of the Ohio Liberty Coalition

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared Larry Ealy, former tow truck operator, former male stripper, perennial candidate and vexatious litigant Running mate: Ken Gray, nurse Ed FitzGerald, County Executive of Cuyahoga County and former mayor of Lakewood Running mate: Sharen Neuhardt, attorney, nominee for Ohio's 7th congressional district in 2008 and for Ohio's 10th congressional district in 2012

Withdrew Todd Portune, Hamilton County Commissioner

Declined Michael B. Coleman, mayor of Columbus Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and former Ohio Attorney General Tim Ryan, U.S. representative Ted Strickland, former governor Betty Sutton, former U.S. representative

Results

Green primary

Candidates

Declared Anita Rios, nominee for lieutenant governor of Ohio in 2006 and 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 Running mate: Bob Fitrakis, author and perennial candidate

Disqualified Dennis Spisak, perennial candidate (failed to gather enough valid signatures) Running mate: Suzanne Patzer, information technology supervisor

Results

Libertarian primary Charlie Earl gathered enough raw signatures to obtain ballot access. However, he was removed from the ballot because technical faults in collection rendered many of his signatures invalid. The decision was appealed in federal court.

Candidates

Disqualified Charlie Earl, former Republican state representative Running mate: Sherry Clark, newspaper publisher

General election

Campaign FitzGerald released a plan for state-funded universal preschool in addition to announcing his support for gay marriage. He criticized Kasich for signing into law income tax cuts that save larger sums of money for wealthier Ohioans than poorer ones, while increasing sales taxes, which tax a larger percentage of income from poorer Ohioans than from wealthier ones. FitzGerald also chided Kasich for a lack of transparency at JobsOhio, the privatized economic development agency that Kasich formed,Jobs Ohio Doesn't Have To Disclose Records On Taxpayer Money and for signing into law bills that cut early voting days and limit the distribution of absentee ballot applications. FitzGerald faced several scandals that damaged his candidacy, most notably the revelations that he had driven for several years without a valid driver's license, him being found in a car late at night with a woman who was not his wife, and that his initial running mate, State Sen. Eric Kearney, owed over $1 million in unpaid taxes. Additionally, FitzGerald consistently trailed Kasich in fundraising throughout the entire campaign.

Endorsements

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 3, 2014 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 3, 2014 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2014 Real Clear Politics November 3, 2014

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKasich (R) EdFitzGerald (D) Other UndecidedThe Columbus DispatchThe Columbus Dispatch October 22–31, 2014 1,009 ± 3.3% 62% 34% — 4%Fox NewsFox News October 28–30, 2014 803 ± 3% 51% 36% 2% 11%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov October 16–23, 2014 2,728 ± 3% 54% 35% 1% 10%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov September 20 – October 1, 2014 3,082 ± 2% 52% 36% 1% 11%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac September 24–29, 2014 999 ± 3.1% 57% 35% 2% 7%The Columbus DispatchThe Columbus Dispatch September 3–5, 2014 1,185 ± 2.9% 59% 29% 3%Anita Rios (G) 10%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov August 18 – September 2, 2014 2,978 ± 3% 50% 37% 2% 11%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports September 8–9, 2014 780 ± 4% 50% 30% — 20%Buckeye PollBuckeye Poll August 31, 2014 600 ± 4% 46% 27% 4% 23%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ August 8–9, 2014 801 ± ? 50% 44% — 6%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac July 24–28, 2014 1,366 ± 2.7% 48% 36% 1% 15%CBS News/NYT/YouGovCBS News/NYT/YouGov July 5–24, 2014 3,624 ± ? 49% 43% 1% 7%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ July 9–10, 2014 889 ± ? 45% 44% — 11%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac May 7–12, 2014 1,174 ± 2.9% 50% 35% 1% 13%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ May 9–11, 2014 740 ± ? 47% 43% — 10%Rasmussen Reports May 7–8, 2014 750 ± 4% 45% 38% 4% 13%SurveyUSASurveyUSA April 24–28, 2014 618 ± 4% 46% 36% 4% 14%Magellan StrategiesMagellan Strategies April 14–15, 2014 857 ± 3.35% 47% 41% 5% 7%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ April 14–15, 2014 1,050 ± ? 44% 44% — 11%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac February 12–17, 2014 1,370 ± 2.7% 43% 38% 1% 18%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling December 6–8, 2013 1,011 ± 3.1% 40% 38% 6%Charlie Earl (L) 16%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac November 19–24, 2013 1,361 ± 2.7% 44% 37% 2% 19%Public Policy Polling^Public Policy Polling^ November 5–6, 2013 595 ± 4% 41% 41% 6% 13%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 16–19, 2013 551 ± 4.2% 35% 38% — 27%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac June 18–23, 2013 941 ± 3.2% 47% 33% 1% 19%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac April 10–15, 2013 1,138 ± 2.9% 46% 37% 1% 17%QuinnipiacQuinnipiac February 21–26, 2013 1,011 ± 3.1% 45% 35% 1% 19%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKasich (R) Michael B.Coleman (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 673 ± 3.8% 43% 36% — 22%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKasich (R) RichardCordray (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac June 18–23, 2013 941 ± 3.2% 47% 36% 1% 17%Quinnipiac April 10–15, 2013 1,138 ± 2.9% 45% 38% 2% 15%Quinnipiac February 21–26, 2013 1,011 ± 3.1% 44% 38% 1% 18%Public Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 673 ± 3.8% 41% 40% — 19%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling May 3–6, 2012 875 ± 3.3% 42% 42% — 16%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKasich (R) LarryEaly (D) AnitaRios (G) UndecidedSurveyUSA April 24–28, 2014 618 ± 4% 50% 25% 7% 18%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKasich (R) DennisKucinich (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 673 ± 3.8% 45% 35% — 20%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKasich (R) TimRyan (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac February 21–26, 2013 1,011 ± 3.1% 44% 36% 1% 19%Public Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 673 ± 3.8% 41% 33% — 26%Public Policy Polling May 3–6, 2012 875 ± 3.3% 40% 41% — 19%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKasich (R) TedStrickland (D) Other UndecidedPublic Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 673 ± 3.8% 44% 42% — 14%Public Policy Polling May 3–6, 2012 875 ± 3.3% 40% 47% — 12%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 28–29, 2012 820 ± 3.4% 36% 56% — 8%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JohnKasich (R) BettySutton (D) Other UndecidedQuinnipiac February 21–26, 2013 1,011 ± 3.1% 45% 38% 1% 16%

^ Polling for the Ohio Democratic Party

Results

By county