2014 Ohio gubernatorial election explained

See also: 2014 United States gubernatorial elections.

Election Name:	2014 Ohio gubernatorial election
Country:	Ohio
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	No
Previous Election:	2010 Ohio gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2010
Next Election:	2018 Ohio gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2018
Election Date:	November 4, 2014
Image1:	File:Governor John Kasich.jpg
Nominee1:	John Kasich
Running Mate1:	Mary Taylor
Party1:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	1,944,848
Percentage1:	63.64%
Nominee2:	Ed FitzGerald
Running Mate2:	Sharen Neuhardt
Party2:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	1,009,359
Percentage2:	33.03%
Map Size:	210px
Governor
Before Election:	John Kasich
Before Party:	Republican Party (United States)
After Election:	John Kasich
After Party:	Republican Party (United States)

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

Despite FitzGerald's massive defeat, he is as of 2023 the last Democrat to carry the historically Democratic Monroe County, which voted for Republican candidate Mike DeWine four years later. 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.

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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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."^[3] Ultimately, Kasich was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• John Kasich, incumbent governor^[4]
  • Running mate: Mary Taylor, incumbent lieutenant governor

Declined

• Donald Allen, veterinarian and candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010^{[5] [6]}
  • Running mate: Kelly Kohls, education activist and Chair of the Warren County Tea Party^[5]
• Ted Stevenot, president of the Ohio Liberty Coalition^[7]

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Larry Ealy, former tow truck operator, former male stripper, perennial candidate and vexatious litigant^{[8] [9] [10]}
  • Running mate: Ken Gray, nurse^[11]
• Ed FitzGerald, County Executive of Cuyahoga County and former mayor of Lakewood^[12]
  • Running mate: Sharen Neuhardt, attorney, nominee for Ohio's 7th congressional district in 2008 and for Ohio's 10th congressional district in 2012^[13]

Withdrew

• Todd Portune, Hamilton County Commissioner^{[14] [15]}

Declined

• Michael B. Coleman, Mayor of Columbus
• Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and former Ohio Attorney General^[16]
• Tim Ryan, U.S. Representative^[17]
• Ted Strickland, former Governor^[18]
• Betty Sutton, former U.S. Representative^[19]

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^[20]
  • Running mate: Bob Fitrakis, author and perennial candidate^[20]

Disqualified

• Dennis Spisak, perennial candidate (failed to gather enough valid signatures)^{[21] [22]}
  • Running mate: Suzanne Patzer, information technology supervisor^[11]

Results

Libertarian primary

Charlie Earl gathered enough raw signatures to obtain ballot access.^[23] 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.^[24]

Candidates

Disqualified

• Charlie Earl, former Republican State Representative^[25]
  • Running mate: Sherry Clark, newspaper publisher^[26]

General election

Campaign

FitzGerald released a plan for state-funded universal preschool in addition to announcing his support for gay marriage.^[27] 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.^[28] FitzGerald also chided Kasich for a lack of transparency at JobsOhio, the privatized economic development agency that Kasich formed,^{[29] [30] [31]} and for signing into law bills that cut early voting days and limit the distribution of absentee ballot applications.^{[32] [33]} 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.^[34]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report^[35]		November 3, 2014
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball^[36]		November 3, 2014
align=left	Rothenberg Political Report^[37]		November 3, 2014
align=left	Real Clear Politics^[38]		November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Ed FitzGerald (D)	Other	Undecided
The Columbus Dispatch	October 22–31, 2014	1,009	± 3.3%	align=center	62%	34%	—	4%
Fox News	October 28–30, 2014	803	± 3%	align=center	51%	36%	2%	11%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	October 16–23, 2014	2,728	± 3%	align=center	54%	35%	1%	10%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	September 20 – October 1, 2014	3,082	± 2%	align=center	52%	36%	1%	11%
Quinnipiac	September 24–29, 2014	999	± 3.1%	align=center	57%	35%	2%	7%
The Columbus Dispatch	September 3–5, 2014	1,185	± 2.9%	align=center	59%	29%	3%^[39]	10%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	August 18 – September 2, 2014	2,978	± 3%	align=center	50%	37%	2%	11%
Rasmussen Reports	September 8–9, 2014	780	± 4%	align=center	50%	30%	—	20%
Buckeye Poll	August 31, 2014	600	± 4%	align=center	46%	27%	4%	23%
Public Policy Polling^	August 8–9, 2014	801	± ?	align=center	50%	44%	—	6%
Quinnipiac	July 24–28, 2014	1,366	± 2.7%	align=center	48%	36%	1%	15%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	July 5–24, 2014	3,624	± ?	align=center	49%	43%	1%	7%
Public Policy Polling^	July 9–10, 2014	889	± ?	align=center	45%	44%	—	11%
Quinnipiac	May 7–12, 2014	1,174	± 2.9%	align=center	50%	35%	1%	13%
Public Policy Polling^	May 9–11, 2014	740	± ?	align=center	47%	43%	—	10%
Rasmussen Reports	May 7–8, 2014	750	± 4%	align=center	45%	38%	4%	13%
SurveyUSA	April 24–28, 2014	618	± 4%	align=center	46%	36%	4%	14%
Magellan Strategies	April 14–15, 2014	857	± 3.35%	align=center	47%	41%	5%	7%
Public Policy Polling^	April 14–15, 2014	1,050	± ?	44%	44%	—	11%
Quinnipiac	February 12–17, 2014	1,370	± 2.7%	align=center	43%	38%	1%	18%
Public Policy Polling	December 6–8, 2013	1,011	± 3.1%	align=center	40%	38%	6%^[40]	16%
Quinnipiac	November 19–24, 2013	1,361	± 2.7%	align=center	44%	37%	2%	19%
Public Policy Polling^	November 5–6, 2013	595	± 4%	41%	41%	6%	13%
Public Policy Polling	August 16–19, 2013	551	± 4.2%	35%	align=center	38%	—	27%
Quinnipiac	June 18–23, 2013	941	± 3.2%	align=center	47%	33%	1%	19%
Quinnipiac	April 10–15, 2013	1,138	± 2.9%	align=center	46%	37%	1%	17%
Quinnipiac	February 21–26, 2013	1,011	± 3.1%	align=center	45%	35%	1%	19%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Michael B. Coleman (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	June 21–24, 2012	673	± 3.8%	align=center	43%	36%	—	22%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Richard Cordray (D)	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac	June 18–23, 2013	941	± 3.2%	align=center	47%	36%	1%	17%
Quinnipiac	April 10–15, 2013	1,138	± 2.9%	align=center	45%	38%	2%	15%
Quinnipiac	February 21–26, 2013	1,011	± 3.1%	align=center	44%	38%	1%	18%
Public Policy Polling	June 21–24, 2012	673	± 3.8%	align=center	41%	40%	—	19%
Public Policy Polling	May 3–6, 2012	875	± 3.3%	42%	42%	—	16%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Larry Ealy (D)	Anita Rios (G)	Undecided
SurveyUSA	April 24–28, 2014	618	± 4%	align=center	50%	25%	7%	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Dennis Kucinich (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	June 21–24, 2012	673	± 3.8%	align=center	45%	35%	—	20%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Tim Ryan (D)	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac	February 21–26, 2013	1,011	± 3.1%	align=center	44%	36%	1%	19%
Public Policy Polling	June 21–24, 2012	673	± 3.8%	align=center	41%	33%	—	26%
Public Policy Polling	May 3–6, 2012	875	± 3.3%	40%	align=center	41%	—	19%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Ted Strickland (D)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	June 21–24, 2012	673	± 3.8%	align=center	44%	42%	—	14%
Public Policy Polling	May 3–6, 2012	875	± 3.3%	40%	align=center	47%	—	12%
Public Policy Polling	January 28–29, 2012	820	± 3.4%	36%	align=center	56%	—	8%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Betty Sutton (D)	Other	Undecided
Quinnipiac	February 21–26, 2013	1,011	± 3.1%	align=center	45%	38%	1%	16%

• ^ Polling for the Ohio Democratic Party

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Ashtabula (largest city: Ashtabula)
• Belmont (largest city: Martins Ferry)
• Cuyahoga (Largest city: Cleveland)
• Erie (largest city: Sandusky)
• Franklin (Largest city: Columbus)
• Harrison (Largest city: Cadiz)
• Hocking (Largest city: Logan)
• Jackson (Largest city: Jackson)
• Jefferson (largest city: Steubenville)
• Lawrence (Largest city: Ironton)
• Lorain (largest municipality: Lorain)
• Lucas (Largest city: Toledo)
• Mahoning (largest municipality: Youngstown)
• Meigs (Largest city: Middleport)
• Montgomery (largest city: Dayton)
• Noble (Largest city: Caldwell)
• Ottawa (Largest city: Port Clinton)
• Perry (Largest city: New Lexington)
• Pike (Largest city: Waverly)
• Ross (Largest city: Chillicothe)
• Scioto (Largest city: Portsmouth)
• Summit (Largest city: Akron)
• Trumbull (largest city: Warren)
• Vinton (Largest city: McArthur)
• Washington (Largest city: Marietta)
• Wood (Largest city: Bowling Green)

By congressional district

Kasich won 14 of 16 congressional districts, including 2 districts that lean strongly Democratic.^[41]

District	Kasich	FitzGerald	Representative
		65%	32%		Steve Chabot
		69%	30%		Brad Wenstrup
		47%	49%		Joyce Beatty
		71%	26%		Jim Jordan
		69%	28%		Bob Latta
		63%	34%		Bill Johnson
		70%	27%		Bob Gibbs
		74%	24%		John Boehner
		52%	44%		Marcy Kaptur
		65%	32%		Mike Turner
		35%	61%		Marcia Fudge
		70%	27%		Pat Tiberi
		53%	43%		Tim Ryan
		68%	29%		David Joyce
		66%	30%		Steve Stivers
		70%	27%		Jim Renacci

External links

• Ohio gubernatorial election, 2014 at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• John Kasich for Governor (R), Incumbent
• Ed FitzGerald for Governor (D)
• Anita Rios for Governor (G)

Notes and References

1. Web site: John Kasich Faces Tea Party Protest Over Medicaid Decision. March 11, 2013. September 5, 2013. HuffPost. Amanda. Terkel.
2. News: Why Does the Tea Party Want to Let Democrats Run Ohio?. May 6, 2013. September 5, 2013. The Daily Beast. Justin. Green.
3. News: Ohio Republican Party Goes to War With Itself, Leaving 2016 in Doubt. September 4, 2013. September 5, 2013. The Daily Beast. David. Freedlander.
4. Web site: Kasich focused on his own re-election bid. November 8, 2012. November 10, 2012. Columbus Dispatch. Joe. Vardon.
5. Web site: Another tea party-backed candidate mulls run for Ohio governor. January 13, 2014. February 4, 2014. The Plain Dealer. Jeremy. Pelzer.
6. Web site: Tea party has no challenger for Kasich after all. https://archive.today/20140204143321/http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20140129/NEWS010801/301290192/. dead. February 4, 2014. January 30, 2014. February 4, 2014. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Chrissie. Thompson.
7. Web site: Tea party activist Ted Stevenot won't challenge Ohio Gov. John Kasich in Republican primary. Casey Weldon. WCPO. November 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129200817/http://www.wcpo.com/news/political/local-politics/tea-party-activist-ted-stevenot-wont-challenge-ohio-gov-john-kasich-in-republican-primary. November 29, 2014. dead.
8. Web site: Who is Larry Ealy? Ohio Politics Roundup. February 6, 2014. February 7, 2014. The Plain Dealer. Henry J. Gomez.
9. Web site: Larry Ealy, little-known Democrat from Dayton, talks about his campaign for governor. February 18, 2014. April 30, 2014. The Plain Dealer. Henry J. Gomez.
10. Web site: Ex-stripper running for Ohio governor opens up about past. May 1, 2014. September 4, 2014. The Columbus Dispatch. Joe Vardon.
11. Web site: FitzGerald might have competition. February 2, 2014. April 30, 2014. The Toledo Blade. Jim Provance.
12. Web site: Cuyahoga County executive Ed FitzGerald announces bid for Ohio governor. April 24, 2013. April 25, 2013. The Blade. Henry J.. Gomez.
13. Web site: Ed FitzGerald names Sharen Neuhardt as running mate. Joe Vardon. The Columbus Dispatch. November 26, 2014.
14. Web site: Primary challenge for FitzGerald? Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune may run for governor. December 17, 2013. December 18, 2013. The Plain Dealer. Tom. Troy.
15. Web site: Ohio governor race 2014: 2nd Democrat to go for seat. POLITICO. December 30, 2013. December 30, 2013. Emily. Schultheis.
16. Web site: With Richard Cordray's future now set, Ed FitzGerald controls his own destiny in Ohio governor's race: Analysis. July 16, 2013. July 17, 2013. The Plain Dealer. Henry J.. Gomez.
17. Web site: Rep. Tim Ryan decides to skip gubernatorial bid. March 15, 2013. March 16, 2013. The Plain Dealer. Sabrina. Eaton.
18. Web site: Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to pass on rematch with John Kasich. January 8, 2013. January 10, 2013. The Plain Dealer. Henry J.. Gomez.
19. Web site: Former Rep. Betty Sutton will not run for governor. March 22, 2013. March 23, 2013. The Plain Dealer. Henry J.. Gomez.
20. Web site: Write-in candidates file for Primary, state issue added to ballot. February 27, 2014. March 29, 2014. Akron Ohio News. Kathleen. Collins. March 9, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309193319/http://www.akron.com/akron-ohio-community-news.asp?aID=22270. dead.
21. Web site: Ohio Green Dennis Spisak announces gubernatorial run. November 24, 2013. November 24, 2013. Green Party of Ohio.
22. News: Vardon. Joe. Larry Ealy qualifies for ballot setting up Democratic gubernatorial primary. March 3, 2014. The Columbus Dispatch. February 19, 2014.
23. Web site: Ed FitzGerald faces only primary among statewide candidates; Libertarians fail to field full slate. Gomez. Henry J.. The Plain Dealer. February 18, 2014. March 3, 2014.
24. Web site: Libertarians angry at GOP while acknowledging faults. Joe Vardon. The Columbus Dispatch. November 26, 2014.
25. News: McAvoy. John. Earl for Ohio Governor Campaign Launch. September 8, 2013. September 6, 2013. October 22, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131022164406/http://toledoteaparty.com/ai1ec_event/earl-for-ohio-governor-campaign-launch/?instance_id=295. dead.
26. News: Gomez. Henry J.. Charlie Earl, Ohio's libertarian candidate for governor, saddles up for his 'last rodeo'. September 13, 2013. The Plain Dealer. September 13, 2013.
27. Web site: FitzGerald proposes $500 million universal preschool plan. The Plain Dealer. May 14, 2014. November 26, 2014.
28. Web site: Ed FitzGerald assails Ohio budget as harmful to middle-class families, the poor and women. The Plain Dealer. June 28, 2013. November 26, 2014.
29. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517124037/https://www.nbc4i.com/story/25393739/jobs-ohio-doesnt-have-to-disclose-records-on-taxpayer-money Jobs Ohio Doesn't Have To Disclose Records On Taxpayer Money
30. Web site: Ed FitzGerald Calls For JobsOhio Transparency. WOSU News. November 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122919/http://wosu.org/2012/news/2013/09/09/ed-fitzgerald-calls-for-jobsohio-transparency/. May 17, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
31. Web site: Ed FitzGerald to Enquirer: Here's my Ohio. The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 21, 2014. November 26, 2014.
32. Web site: Kasich signs voting bills that end Golden Week and limit distribution of absentee ballots. The Plain Dealer. February 22, 2014. November 26, 2014.
33. Web site: Cuyahoga County. The Plain Dealer. April 9, 2014. November 26, 2014.
34. Web site: Ed FitzGerald's campaign is over except for the epitaph, but he may take down the rest of the ticket, too: Brent Larkin. August 6, 2014. The Plain Dealer.
35. Web site: 2014 Governor Race Ratings for November 3, 2014 . The Cook Political Report . September 3, 2018.
36. Web site: The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks . Sabato's Crystal Ball . September 3, 2018.
37. Web site: 2014 Gubernatorial Ratings . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . September 3, 2018.
38. Web site: 2014 Elections Map – 2014 Governors Races . Real Clear Politics . September 3, 2018.
39. Anita Rios (G)
40. Charlie Earl (L)
41. Web site: Election Results and Data - Ohio Secretary of State. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170819165555/https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/. 2017-08-19.