2014 Ohio gubernatorial election

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.

2014 Ohio gubernatorial election

November 4, 2014

Nominee John Kasich Ed FitzGerald Party Republican Democratic Running mate Mary Taylor Sharen Neuhardt Popular vote 1,944,848 1,009,359 Percentage 63.6% 33.0%

County Results Kasich:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% FitzGerald:      50–60%

Governor before election John Kasich Republican Elected Governor John Kasich Republican

Despite FitzGerald's massive defeat, he is as of 2018 the last Democrat to carry the historically liberal Monroe County, Ohio, 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.

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

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

Republican primary results[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Kasich (incumbent)	559,671	100
Total votes			559,671	100

Democratic primary

Declared

• Larry Ealy, former tow truck operator, former male stripper, perennial candidate and vexatious litigant[9][10][11]
  • Running mate: Ken Gray, nurse[12]
• Ed FitzGerald, County Executive of Cuyahoga County and former mayor of Lakewood[13]
  • Running mate: Sharen Neuhardt, attorney, nominee for Ohio's 7th congressional district in 2008 and for Ohio's 10th congressional district in 2012[14]

Withdrew

• Todd Portune, Hamilton County Commissioner[15][16]

Declined

• Michael B. Coleman, Mayor of Columbus[17]
• Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and former Ohio Attorney General[18]
• Tim Ryan, U.S. Representative[19]
• Ted Strickland, former Governor[17]
• Betty Sutton, former U.S. Representative[20]

Results

Democratic primary results[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ed FitzGerald	366,056	83.15
	Democratic	Larry Ealy	74,197	16.85
Total votes			440,253	100

Green primary

Declared

• Anita Rios, nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio in 2006 and 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012[21]
  • Running mate: Bob Fitrakis, author and perennial candidate[21]

Disqualified

• Dennis Spisak, perennial candidate (failed to gather enough valid signatures)[22][23][24]
  • Running mate: Suzanne Patzer, information technology supervisor[12]

Results

Green Party primary results[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Green	Anita Rios	674	100
Total votes			674	100

Libertarian primary

Charlie Earl gathered enough raw signatures to obtain ballot access.[22] 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.[25]

Disqualified

• Charlie Earl, former Republican State Representative[26]
  • Running mate: Sherry Clark, newspaper publisher[27]

General election

Campaign

FitzGerald released a plan for state-funded universal preschool in addition to announcing his support for gay marriage.[28] 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.[29] FitzGerald also chided Kasich for a lack of transparency at JobsOhio, the privatized economic development agency that Kasich formed,[30][31][32] and for signing into law bills that cut early voting days and limit the distribution of absentee ballot applications.[33][34] 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 did consistently trailed Kasich in fundraising throughout the entire campaign.[35]

Endorsements

John Kasich

Newspapers

• The Cincinnati Enquirer[36]
• The Columbus Dispatch[37]
• The Plain Dealer[38]

Organizations

• Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters[39]
• International Union of Operating Engineers Local 18[40]
• National Federation of Independent Business[41]
• Ohio Chamber of Commerce[42]
• Ohio Restaurant Association[43]
• Ohio Right to Life[44]

Ed Fitzgerald

Individuals

• Sherrod Brown, United States Senator (D-OH)[45]
• Michael B. Coleman, Mayor of Columbus[46]
• Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland[47]
• Marcy Kaptur, U.S. Representative (D-OH-9)[48]
• Ted Strickland, former Governor of Ohio[49]

Organizations

• Service Employees International Union[50]
• Ohio AFL–CIO[51]
• Ohio Civil Service Employees Association[50]
• Ohio Education Association[52]
• Ohio Federation of Teachers[50]
• United Automobile Workers[53]
• United Food and Commercial Workers[50]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[54]	Solid R	November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball[55]	Safe R	November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report[56]	Safe R	November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics[57]	Safe R	November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Kasich (R)	Ed FitzGerald (D)	Other	Undecided
The Columbus Dispatch	October 22–31, 2014	1,009	± 3.3%	62%	34%	—	4%
Fox News	October 28–30, 2014	803	± 3%	51%	36%	2%	11%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	October 16–23, 2014	2,728	± 3%	54%	35%	1%	10%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	September 20 – October 1, 2014	3,082	± 2%	52%	36%	1%	11%
Quinnipiac	September 24–29, 2014	999	± 3.1%	57%	35%	2%	7%
The Columbus Dispatch	September 3–5, 2014	1,185	± 2.9%	59%	29%	3%[58]	10%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	August 18 – September 2, 2014	2,978	± 3%	50%	37%	2%	11%
Rasmussen Reports	September 8–9, 2014	780	± 4%	50%	30%	—	20%
Buckeye Poll	August 31, 2014	600	± 4%	46%	27%	4%	23%
Public Policy Polling^	August 8–9, 2014	801	± ?	50%	44%	—	6%
Quinnipiac	July 24–28, 2014	1,366	± 2.7%	48%	36%	1%	15%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	July 5–24, 2014	3,624	± ?	49%	43%	1%	7%
Public Policy Polling^	July 9–10, 2014	889	± ?	45%	44%	—	11%
Quinnipiac	May 7–12, 2014	1,174	± 2.9%	50%	35%	1%	13%
Public Policy Polling^	May 9–11, 2014	740	± ?	47%	43%	—	10%
Rasmussen Reports	May 7–8, 2014	750	± 4%	45%	38%	4%	13%
SurveyUSA	April 24–28, 2014	618	± 4%	46%	36%	4%[58]	14%
Magellan Strategies	April 14–15, 2014	857	± 3.35%	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%	43%	38%	1%	18%
Public Policy Polling	December 6–8, 2013	1,011	± 3.1%	40%	38%	6%[59]	16%
Quinnipiac	November 19–24, 2013	1,361	± 2.7%	44%	37%	2%	19%
Public Policy Polling^	November 5–6, 2013	595	± 4%	41%	41%	6%[59]	13%
Public Policy Polling	August 16–19, 2013	551	± 4.2%	35%	38%	—	27%
Quinnipiac	June 18–23, 2013	941	± 3.2%	47%	33%	1%	19%
Quinnipiac	April 10–15, 2013	1,138	± 2.9%	46%	37%	1%	17%
Quinnipiac	February 21–26, 2013	1,011	± 3.1%	45%	35%	1%	19%

• ^ Polling for the Ohio Democratic Party

Results

Ohio gubernatorial election, 2014[60]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Kasich (incumbent)	1,944,848	63.64%	+14.60%
	Democratic	Ed FitzGerald	1,009,359	33.03%	-14.01%
	Green	Anita Rios	101,706	3.33%	+1.81%
Total votes			'3,055,913'	'100.0%'	N/A
	Republican hold

By congressional district

Kasich won 14 of 16 congressional districts, including 2 districts that lean strongly democratic.[61]

District	Kasich	FitzGerald	Representative
1st	65%	32%	Steve Chabot
2nd	69%	30%	Brad Wenstrup
3rd	47%	49%	Joyce Beatty
4th	71%	26%	Jim Jordan
5th	69%	28%	Bob Latta
6th	63%	34%	Bill Johnson
7th	70%	27%	Bob Gibbs
8th	74%	24%	John Boehner
9th	52%	44%	Marcy Kaptur
10th	65%	32%	Mike Turner
11th	35%	61%	Marcia Fudge
12th	70%	27%	Pat Tiberi
13th	53%	43%	Tim Ryan
14th	68%	29%	David Joyce
15th	66%	30%	Steve Stivers
16th	70%	27%	Jim Renacci

References

1. Terkel, Amanda (March 11, 2013). "John Kasich Faces Tea Party Protest Over Medicaid Decision". HuffPost. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
2. Green, Justin (May 6, 2013). "Why Does the Tea Party Want to Let Democrats Run Ohio?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
3. Freedlander, David (September 4, 2013). "Ohio Republican Party Goes to War With Itself, Leaving 2016 in Doubt". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
4. Vardon, Joe (November 8, 2012). "Kasich focused on his own re-election bid". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
5. Pelzer, Jeremy (January 13, 2014). "Another tea party-backed candidate mulls run for Ohio governor". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
6. Thompson, Chrissie (January 30, 2014). "Tea party has no challenger for Kasich after all". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
7. Casey Weldon. "Tea party activist Ted Stevenot won't challenge Ohio Gov. John Kasich in Republican primary". WCPO. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
8. "Ohio Decides 2014". Retrieved November 26, 2014.
9. Henry J. Gomez (February 6, 2014). "Who is Larry Ealy? Ohio Politics Roundup". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
10. Henry J. Gomez (February 18, 2014). "Larry Ealy, little-known Democrat from Dayton, talks about his campaign for governor". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
11. Joe Vardon (May 1, 2014). "Ex-stripper running for Ohio governor opens up about past". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
12. Jim Provance (February 2, 2014). "FitzGerald might have competition". The Toledo Blade. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
13. Gomez, Henry J. (April 24, 2013). "Cuyahoga County executive Ed FitzGerald announces bid for Ohio governor". The Blade. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
14. Joe Vardon. "Ed FitzGerald names Sharen Neuhardt as running mate". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
15. Troy, Tom (December 17, 2013). "Primary challenge for FitzGerald? Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune may run for governor". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
16. Schultheis, Emily (December 30, 2013). "Ohio governor race 2014: 2nd Democrat to go for seat". POLITICO. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
17. Gomez, Henry J. (January 8, 2013). "Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to pass on rematch with John Kasich". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
18. Gomez, Henry J. (July 16, 2013). "With Richard Cordray's future now set, Ed FitzGerald controls his own destiny in Ohio governor's race: Analysis". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
19. Eaton, Sabrina (March 15, 2013). "Rep. Tim Ryan decides to skip gubernatorial bid". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 16, 2013.
20. Gomez, Henry J. (March 22, 2013). "Former Rep. Betty Sutton will not run for governor". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
21. Collins, Kathleen (February 27, 2014). "Write-in candidates file for Primary, state issue added to ballot". Akron Ohio News. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
22. Gomez, Henry J. (February 18, 2014). "Ed FitzGerald faces only primary among statewide candidates; Libertarians fail to field full slate". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
23. "Ohio Green Dennis Spisak announces gubernatorial run". Green Party of Ohio. November 24, 2013. Retrieved November 24, 2013.
24. Vardon, Joe (February 19, 2014). "Larry Ealy qualifies for ballot setting up Democratic gubernatorial primary". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
25. Joe Vardon. "Libertarians angry at GOP while acknowledging faults". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
26. McAvoy, John (September 6, 2013). "Earl for Ohio Governor Campaign Launch". Retrieved September 8, 2013.
27. Gomez, Henry J. (September 13, 2013). "Charlie Earl, Ohio's libertarian candidate for governor, saddles up for his 'last rodeo'". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
28. "FitzGerald proposes $500 million universal preschool plan". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
29. "Ed FitzGerald assails Ohio budget as harmful to middle-class families, the poor and women". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
30. http://www.nbc4i.com/story/25393739/jobs-ohio-doesnt-have-to-disclose-records-on-taxpayer-money
31. "Ed FitzGerald Calls For JobsOhio Transparency". WOSU News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
32. CIN (March 21, 2014). "Ed FitzGerald to Enquirer: Here's my Ohio". Retrieved November 26, 2014.
33. "Kasich signs voting bills that end Golden Week and limit distribution of absentee ballots". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
34. "Cuyahoga County". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
35. https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/08/ed_fitzgeralds_campaign_is_ove.html
36. "Endorsement: John Kasich for governor". The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 21, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
37. "For governor; John Kasich has reinvigorated Ohio and deserves second term". The Columbus Dispatch. September 21, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
38. "John Kasich for Ohio governor: endorsement editorial". The Plain Dealer. October 24, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
39. Borchardt, Jackie (October 22, 2014). "John Kasich accepts second labor endorsement from carpenters' union". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
40. Tobias, Andrew (October 9, 2014). "Ohio Gov. John Kasich plays up blue-collar roots, mentions 'a shot and a beer' while accepting endorsement from construction union". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
41. "NFIB/Ohio Supports Governor Kasich in Re-Election Bid". NFIB.com. July 8, 2014. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
42. Higgs, Robert (September 10, 2014). "Ohio Chamber backs Kasich for re-election, marking just its second gubernatorial endorsement". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
43. Gomez, Henry (July 28, 2014). "Ohio Restaurant Association sticks with Gov. John Kasich despite split over guns in bars". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
44. Ertelt, Steven (July 23, 2014). "Ohio Pro-Life Group Backs Pro-Life Governor John Kasich for Re-Election". lifenews.com. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
45. Troy, Tom (November 15, 2013). "U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown comes to Toledo to endorse FitzGerald for governor". Toledo Blade. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
46. Drabold, Will (April 9, 2014). "Mayor Coleman endorses FitzGerald for governor". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
47. Gomez, Henry J. (January 16, 2014). "Ed FitzGerald collects endorsement from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson; announcement on new running mate 'coming very soon'". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
48. Troy, Tom (August 15, 2013). "Kaptur endorses FitzGerald in governor's race". Toledo Blade. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
49. Gomez, Henry J. (July 29, 2013). "Ohio governor's race: Former Gov. Ted Strickland passes torch to fellow Democrat Ed FitzGerald". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
50. Hart, Jason (January 6, 2014). "Ohio Democrats Enjoy Early Labor Union Endorsements". mediatrackers. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
51. Gomez, Henry J. (October 7, 2013). "Ohio AFL-CIO backs Ed FitzGerald for governor". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
52. "Ohio Education Association Endorses FitzGerald for Governor". Ohio Education Association. November 4, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
53. Gomez, Henry J. (February 13, 2014). "Ed FitzGerald plays up UAW endorsement, John Kasich heads to Cleveland: Ohio Politics Roundup". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
54. "2014 Governor Race Ratings for November 3, 2014". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
55. "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
56. "2014 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
57. "2014 Elections Map - 2014 Governors Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
58. Anita Rios (G)
59. Charlie Earl (L)
60. https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/2014-elections-results/
61. https://www.sos.state.oh.us/elections/election-results-and-data/#gref

External links

• Ohio gubernatorial election, 2014 at Ballotpedia
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org

Official campaign websites (Archived)

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