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.

See also: 2014 United States gubernatorial elections

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:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%
Governor before election

John Kasich
Republican

 Elected Governor

John Kasich
Republican

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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. As of 2022, 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

Declared

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

Withdrew

Declined

Results
Results by county:
  FitzGerald—80–90%
  FitzGerald—70–80%
  FitzGerald—60–70%
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

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 consistently trailed Kasich in fundraising throughout the entire campaign.[35]

Endorsements
John Kasich
Newspapers
Organizations
Ed Fitzgerald
Individuals
Organizations

Predictions
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[53] Solid R November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball[54] Safe R November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report[55] Safe R November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics[56] 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%[57] 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%[57] 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 Archived February 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine 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%[58] 16%
Quinnipiac Archived November 28, 2013, at the Wayback Machine November 19–24, 2013 1,361 ± 2.7% 44% 37% 2% 19%
Public Policy Polling^ November 5–6, 2013 595 ± 4% 41% 41% 6%[58] 13%
Public Policy Polling August 16–19, 2013 551 ± 4.2% 35% 38% — 27%
Quinnipiac Archived June 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine 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%
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 John
Kasich (R)		 Michael B.
Coleman (D)		 Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 673 ± 3.8% 43% 36% — 22%
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 John
Kasich (R)		 Richard
Cordray (D)		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac Archived June 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine 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 Polling May 3–6, 2012 875 ± 3.3% 42% 42% — 16%
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 John
Kasich (R)		 Larry
Ealy (D)		 Anita
Rios (G)		 Undecided
SurveyUSA April 24–28, 2014 618 ± 4% 50% 25% 7% 18%
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 John
Kasich (R)		 Dennis
Kucinich (D)		 Other Undecided
Public Policy Polling June 21–24, 2012 673 ± 3.8% 45% 35% — 20%
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 John
Kasich (R)		 Tim
Ryan (D)		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac 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		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 John
Kasich (R)		 Ted
Strickland (D)		 Other Undecided
Public 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 Polling January 28–29, 2012 820 ± 3.4% 36% 56% — 8%
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size		 Margin of
error		 John
Kasich (R)		 Betty
Sutton (D)		 Other Undecided
Quinnipiac February 21–26, 2013 1,011 ± 3.1% 45% 38% 1% 16%
  • ^ Polling for the Ohio Democratic Party

Results
Ohio gubernatorial election, 2014[59]
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 3,055,913 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

By congressional district

Kasich won 14 of 16 congressional districts, including 2 districts that lean strongly Democratic.[60]

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. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. 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". Archived from the original on November 30, 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. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. 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.
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  28. "FitzGerald proposes $500 million universal preschool plan". The Plain Dealer. May 14, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  29. "Ed FitzGerald assails Ohio budget as harmful to middle-class families, the poor and women". The Plain Dealer. June 28, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  30. Jobs Ohio Doesn't 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.
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  33. "Kasich signs voting bills that end Golden Week and limit distribution of absentee ballots". The Plain Dealer. February 22, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
  34. "Cuyahoga County". The Plain Dealer. April 9, 2014. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
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  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.
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  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.
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  44. Troy, Tom (November 15, 2013). "U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown comes to Toledo to endorse FitzGerald for governor". Toledo Blade. Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  45. Drabold, Will (April 9, 2014). "Mayor Coleman endorses FitzGerald for governor". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
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  47. Troy, Tom (August 15, 2013). "Kaptur endorses FitzGerald in governor's race". Toledo Blade. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
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  49. 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.
  50. Gomez, Henry J. (October 7, 2013). "Ohio AFL-CIO backs Ed FitzGerald for governor". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  51. "Ohio Education Association Endorses FitzGerald for Governor". Ohio Education Association. November 4, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
  52. 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.
  53. "2014 Governor Race Ratings for November 3, 2014". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  54. "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  55. "2014 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  56. "2014 Elections Map – 2014 Governors Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 3, 2018.
  57. Anita Rios (G)
  58. Charlie Earl (L)
  59. "2014 Elections Results". Ohio Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020.
  60. "Election Results and Data - Ohio Secretary of State". Archived from the original on August 19, 2017.
Official campaign websites (Archived)
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