The 2018 Ohio gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of Ohio, concurrently with the election of Ohio's Class I U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various Ohio and local elections. Incumbent Republican Governor John Kasich was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.
Republicans nominated Ohio Attorney General and former U.S. senator Mike DeWine, while Democrats nominated former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director and former Ohio attorney general Richard Cordray. This was the second contest between DeWine and Cordray, following the 2010 attorney general election, which DeWine won, 47.5% to 46.3%.
In 2018, DeWine defeated Cordray 50.4% to 46.7%, in what was considered a minor upset. Despite Cordray's loss, he became the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win Cincinnati's Hamilton County since Dick Celeste in 1982. Likewise, DeWine became the first Republican to win in the historically Democratic Monroe County in a gubernatorial election since 2002 as the county took a sharp turn to the right. With Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown winning re-election in the same year, this was the first election since 1974 in which Ohio simultaneously voted for a gubernatorial nominee and a U.S. Senate nominee of opposite parties.
DeWine and Husted took office on January 14, 2019.
Republican primary Candidates Nominated Mike DeWine, Ohio attorney general, former U.S. senator, former lieutenant governor of Ohio, and former U.S. representative Running mate: Jon Husted, Ohio secretary of state and former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives
Eliminated in primary Mary Taylor, lieutenant governor of Ohio Running mate: Nathan Estruth, businessman
Withdrew Jon Husted, Ohio secretary of state (ran for lieutenant governor with DeWine) Jim Renacci, U.S. representative from (ran for U.S. Senate) Running mate: Amy Murray, Cincinnati councilwoman
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeDeWine MaryTaylor Other UndecidedBaldwin Wallace University April 24 – May 2, 2018 323 – 52% 24% – 25%Remington Research Group (R-Taylor) April 10, 2018 1,064 ± 3.1% 42% 32% – 26%Fallon Research April 4–7, 2018 502 ± 4.4% 43% 26% – 31%SurveyUSA March 16–20, 2018 541 ± 5.8% 50% 18% – 31%TRZ Communications (R-WTPC) February 17, 2018 1,152 ± 3.0% 61% 39% – – 35% 16% 15% 33%Fallon Research January 16–19, 2018 286 – 54% 14% – 32%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeDeWine JonHusted JimRenacci MaryTaylor UndecidedAxis Research (R-Taylor) August 13–15, 2017 602 ± 4.1% 36% 20% 8% 17% 19%The Tarrance Group (R) July 24–26, 2017 800 ± 3.5% 42% 18% 5% 11% 24% 49% 29% – – 21%Luntz Global June 12, 2017 500 ± 4.4% 27% 13% 3% 8% –Gravis Marketing April 27 – May 2, 2017 686 ± 2.7% 31% 14% 6% 10% 40%The Tarrance Group (R) January 23–26, 2017 800 ± 3.5% 47% 18% 4% 10% 22%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominated Richard Cordray, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, former Ohio attorney general, former Ohio state treasurer, nominee for OH-15 in 1992, nominee for attorney general in 1998 and 2010, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2000 Running mate: Betty Sutton, former U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Larry Ealy, former male stripper and candidate for governor in 2014 Running mate: Jeffrey Lynn Dennis Kucinich, former U.S. representative, former mayor of Cleveland, candidate for secretary of state in 1982, and candidate for president of the United States in 2004 and 2008 Running mate: Tara Samples, Akron city councilwoman Bill O'Neill, justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and nominee for OH-14 in 2008 and 2010 Running mate: Chantelle Lewis, elementary school principal and former East Cleveland City councilwoman Paul Ray Running mate: Jerry Schroeder Joe Schiavoni, state senator and former minority leader of the Ohio Senate Running mate: Stephanie Dodd, State Board of Education member
Failed to qualify for ballot Jon Heavey, physician Dave Kiefer, former Wayne County Commissioner and Republican candidate for state representative in 2016
Withdrew Connie Pillich, former state representative and nominee for Ohio state treasurer in 2014 (endorsed Cordray) Running mate: Scott Schertzer, mayor of Marion, Ohio Betty Sutton, former U.S. representative (ran for lieutenant governor) Nan Whaley, mayor of Dayton (endorsed Cordray)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RichardCordray DennisKucinich BillO'Neill ConniePillich JoeSchiavoni Other UndecidedBaldwin Wallace University April 24 – May 2, 2018 333 – 31% 15% 6% – 6% – 41%Fallon Research April 4–7, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 28% 13% 3% – 5% 1% 51%SurveyUSA March 16–20, 2018 509 ± 5.3% 21% 21% 4% 5% – 3% 46%Fallon Research January 16–19, 2018 248 – 23% 16% 3% 2% 4% – 52%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RichardCordray ConniePillich JoeSchiavoni BettySutton NanWhaley UndecidedLuntz Global June 12, 2017 500 ± 4.4% 17% 9% 20% 21% 10% –Gravis Marketing April 27 – May 2, 2017 558 ± 2.7% – 8% 12% 13% – 67%
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominated Travis Irvine, filmmaker and writer Running mate: Todd Grayson
Withdrew
Bruce Jaynes, entrepreneur Stephen Quinn, student
Green primary
Candidates Nominated Constance Gadell-Newton, attorney, co-chair of the Ohio Green Party and nominee for the State House in 2016 Running mate: Brett R. Joseph
General election Candidates Richard Cordray (Democratic), former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, former Ohio attorney general and former Ohio state treasurer Running mate: Betty Sutton, former U.S. representative Mike DeWine (Republican), Ohio attorney general and former U.S. senator Running mate: Jon A. Husted, secretary of state of Ohio and former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Constance Gadell-Newton (Green), attorney, co-chair of the Ohio Green Party and nominee for the State House in 2016 Running mate: Brett R. Joseph, attorney, educator and small businessman Travis Irvine (Libertarian) Running mate: Todd Grayson, former Perrysburg city councilman
Endorsements
Debates
+Hostnetwork/sponsorsLocationDateLink(s) Possible participantsRichardCordray (D)MikeDeWine (R)Travis Irvine (L)Constance Gadell-Newton (G)WHIO-TVUniversity of DaytonSeptember 19, 2018InvitedInvitedNot InvitedNot InvitedWCMH-TVMarietta CollegeOctober 1, 2018InvitedInvitedNot InvitedNot InvitedOhio Debate CommissionCleveland State UniversityOctober 8, 2018InvitedInvitedNot InvitedNot Invited
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018The Washington Post November 5, 2018FiveThirtyEight November 5, 2018Rothenberg Political Report November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2018RealClearPolitics November 4, 2018Daily Kos November 5, 2018Fox News November 5, 2018Politico November 5, 2018Governing November 5, 2018
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeDeWine(R) RichardCordray(D) TravisIrvine(L) ConstanceGadell-Newton (G) Other UndecidedChange ResearchChange Research November 2–4, 2018 923 – 43% 48% 5% 1% – –The Trafalgar Group (R) November 2–4, 2018 1,948 ± 2.2% 42% 46% – – 7% 5%Research Co. November 1–3, 2018 450 ± 4.6% 44% 44% – – 2% 10%Cygnal (R) October 30–31, 2018 503 ± 4.4% 43% 43% 3% 2% – 9%Gravis Marketing October 29–30, 2018 789 ± 3.5% 43% 48% – – – 9%Emerson College October 26–28, 2018 566 ± 4.3% 46% 49% – – 2% 3%Baldwin Wallace University October 19–27, 2018 1,051 ± 3.8% 39% 39% 4% 2% – 16% 41% 42% – – – 17%Suffolk University October 4–8, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 40% 46% 2% 0% 0% 10%Baldwin Wallace University September 8 – October 8, 2018 1,017 ± 3.5% 40% 37% 4% 3% – 15% 42% 39% – – – 19%University of Akron September 10 – October 4, 2018 1,000 ± 3.0% 37% 36% – – – 27%Ipsos September 13–21, 2018 1,074 ± 3.0% 45% 44% – – 2% 9%Triton Polling & Research (R) September 18–20, 2018 1,003 ± 3.1% 49% 44% – – – 8%Marist College September 16–20, 2018 564 LV ± 5.0% 44% 44% 3% 3% <1% 6% 47% 47% – – 1% 6% 796 RV ± 4.2% 42% 43% 4% 4% 1% 6% 47% 47% – – 1% 6%Baldwin Wallace University September 5–15, 2018 1,048 ± 3.6% 42% 37% – – – 21%Morning Consult September 2–11, 2018 1,592 ± 2.0% 39% 38% – – – 23%Change Research (D-Innovation Ohio) August 31 – September 4, 2018 822 ± 3.0% 45% 43% 6% 3% – – 43% 43% – – – 14%TRZ Communications (R-WTPC) June 30 – July 10, 2018 1,485 ± 3.0% 42% 38% – – 3% 17%Marist College June 17–22, 2018 778 ± 4.4% 46% 42% – – 2% 11%Quinnipiac University June 7–12, 2018 1,082 ± 3.7% 40% 42% – – 2% 14%Suffolk University June 6–11, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 36% 43% – 3% 2% 16%America First Action (R) May 29–31, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 45% 38% – – – 10%Fallon Research May 21–25, 2018 800 ± 3.5% 40% 34% – 1% 3% 22%Public Policy Polling (D-Ohio Democratic Party) May 6–7, 2018 618 ± 3.9% 39% 44% – – – 17%Public Policy Polling (D-Ohio Democratic Party) April 25–26, 2018 770 ± 3.5% 38% 47% – – – 14%SurveyUSA March 16–20, 2018 1,408 ± 3.5% 47% 39% – – – 14%Public Policy Polling (D-Ohio Democratic Party) January 22–23, 2018 585 ± 4.1% 45% 44% – – – 11%Fallon Research January 16–19, 2018 801 ± 3.5% 49% 28% – – – 23%Luntz Global June 12, 2017 500 ± 4.4% 55% 31% – – – 14%
with DeWine and Kucinich Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeDeWine (R) DennisKucinich (D) UndecidedSurveyUSA March 16–20, 2018 1,408 ± 3.5% 51% 38% 12%Public Policy Polling (D-Ohio Democratic Party) January 22–23, 2018 585 ± 4.1% 48% 37% 14%
with DeWine and Pillich Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeDeWine (R) ConniePillich (D) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D-Ohio Democratic Party) January 22–23, 2018 585 ± 4.1% 47% 35% 18%
with Jon Husted Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JonHusted (R) RichardCordray (D) UndecidedLuntz Global June 12, 2017 500 ± 4.4% 47% 35% 18%
with generic Republican and Democrat Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericRepublican GenericDemocrat UndecidedBaldwin Wallace University February 28 – March 9, 2018 1,011 ± 3.0% 37% 32% –
Results
By county