Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

Elections in Ohio, 2018

• General election: Nov. 6
• Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
• Early voting: Oct. 10 - Nov. 5
• Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

• Online registration: Yes
• Same-day registration: No
• Voter ID: Non-photo ID required
• Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Congressional special elections • Governor • Attorney General • Secretary of State • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • Municipal • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries

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Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: February 7, 2018
Primary: May 8, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent(s): Gov. John Kasich (Republican) Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voting in Ohio
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Toss-up Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss-up Inside Elections: Toss-up
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2018 Impact of term limits in 2018 State government trifectas State government triplexes Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Ohio executive elections
Governor Lieutenant governor Attorney general Secretary of state Treasurer Auditor State board of education

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) defeated former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray (D), Constance Gadell-Newton (G), and Travis Irvine (L) in the general election for governor of Ohio on November 6, 2018.

Incumbent John Kasich (R) was prevented from seeking election to a third term due to term limits, leaving the seat open. Kasich was last elected in 2014 by a margin of 31 percentage points. Of the ten preceding gubernatorial elections, a Republican candidate won seven—including Kasich's victories in 2010 and 2014—and a Democratic candidate won three. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) carried the state by a margin of 8 percentage points. Election forecasters considered the race to be close; as of November 2018, the race was rated Toss-up by three elections forecasters.

DeWine's victory preserved the state's Republican trifecta. At the time of the election, Ohio had been a Republican trifecta since Republicans gained a majority in the state House and John Kasich (R) took office as governor in 2010. The winner of this election stood to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. Under Ohio state law, the governor may veto congressional district maps proposed by the state legislature and sits on the seven-member commission responsible for drawing a congressional district map in the event the legislature is unable to settle on a proposal. The governor also sits on the seven-member commission responsible for drawing new state legislative district maps.

Ohio was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election. Click here for more information on other 2018 gubernatorial elections.

For more information about the Democratic primary, click here.
For more information about the Republican primary, click here.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Governor of Ohio

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of Ohio on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Michael DeWine (R)	50.4	2,231,917
		Richard Cordray (D)	46.7	2,067,847
		Travis Irvine (L)	1.8	79,985
		Constance Gadell-Newton (G)	1.1	49,475
		Renea Turner (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	185
		Richard Duncan (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	132
		Rebecca Ayres (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	41

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,429,582 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Collin Hill (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Ohio

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Cordray	62.2	428,159
		Dennis J. Kucinich	23.0	158,284
		Joseph Schiavoni	9.2	63,131
		William O'Neill	3.3	22,667
		Paul Ray	1.4	9,536
		Larry Ealy	1.0	7,011

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 688,788
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Connie Pillich (D)
• Jonathan Heavey (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Ohio

Richard Michael DeWine defeated Mary Taylor in the Republican primary for Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Richard Michael DeWine	59.8	499,639
		Mary Taylor	40.2	335,328

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 834,967
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jim Renacci (R)

Green primary election

Green primary for Governor of Ohio

Constance Gadell-Newton advanced from the Green primary for Governor of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Constance Gadell-Newton	100.0	3,031

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 3,031
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Write-in candidates

• Rebecca Ayres
• Renea Turner
• Richard Duncan

Lieutenant gubernatorial election

General election candidates

• Betty Sutton  (Democratic Party)
• Jon Husted  (Republican Party) ✔
• Brett Joseph  (Green Party)
• Todd Grayson  (Libertarian Party)
• Dennis Artino  (Independent) (Write-in)
• Keith Colton  (Independent) (Write-in)
• Anthony Durgans  (Independent) (Write-in)

Did not make the ballot:

• Adam Hudak (Democratic Party)
• Scott Schertzer (Democratic Party)
• Ian Tumey (Independent)

Write-in candidates

• Anthony Durgans (Running mate of Rebecca Ayres)
• Keith Colton (Running mate of Renea Turner)
• Dennis Artino (Running mate of Richard Duncan)

Candidate profiles

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages

Richard Cordray, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director (2012-2017), Attorney General of Ohio (2009-2011), Ohio Treasurer (2007-2009), Franklin County Treasurer (2002-2007), Ohio House of Representatives (1991-1992)

Biography: After graduating from Michigan State University in 1981, Cordray received a graduate degree in economics from Oxford University and a law degree from the University of Chicago. He went on to clerk for U.S. Supreme Court justices Byron White and Anthony Kennedy before joining law firm Jones Day in 1988. Cordray is a five-time champion on the game show Jeopardy!, having made several appearances on the show during the 1980s.

Key messages

• Cordray said that his run was motivated by a desire "to change the system so that it works for Ohioans and their families". Cordray's campaign materials said that he "will focus on putting money back in the pockets of working Ohioans, by bringing down health care costs, lowering taxes for the middle class and making sure people have the vocational training they need to get jobs that let them live a middle-class life."

• Cordray said that he had a proven record of accomplishments from his years in public service, particularly his time as CFPB director and state attorney general, pointing voters to settlements he achieved with financial companies and for-profit universities.

• Cordray said that, "During Mike DeWine’s 42 years in politics he’s always stood with the insurance and drug companies...consistently sided with the wealthy, the powerful and the big corporations at the expense of hard-working Ohioans."

Mike DeWine, state attorney general

Party: Republican

Incumbent: No

Political office: Attorney General of Ohio (Assumed office: 2011), U.S. Senate (1994-2006), Lieutenant Governor of Ohio (1990-1994), U.S. House of Representatives (1982-1990), Ohio State Senate (1980-1982), Greene County Prosecutor (1976-1980)

Biography: After graduating from Miami University in 1969, DeWine attended law school at Ohio Northern University, receiving his degree in 1972. He was hired out of law school as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Greene County and was elected as county prosecutor four years later.

Key messages

• DeWine said that he was running to continue the progress that the state had made, saying in his opening statement during the first gubernatorial debate that "We've come a long, long way since Richard Cordray and Ted Strickland were in office, and the way has been upward. We need to take the next step," adding that he would seek to expand economic opportunity in the state.

• DeWine said that he had a proven record of public service, pointing to his time as state attorney general in which he "deals with some of the largest barriers our state is facing: drugs, crime, and kids who are growing up in fragmented families." DeWine pointed voters to the clearing of the backlog of rape kits which he said were left untested while Cordray was in office.

• DeWine said that he would make responding to the opioid crisis a priority, saying that he had a 12-point plan for dealing with the crisis. He said that his approach would be more effective than Cordray's, criticizing Cordray for his support of Issue 1.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

Governor of Ohio, 2018
Poll	Poll sponsor	Cordray (D)	DeWine (R)	Undecided/Other	Margin of Error	Sample Size
Cygnal (October 30-31, 2018)	N/A	43%	43%	14%	+/-4.4	503
Gravis Marketing (October 29-30, 2018)	N/A	48%	43%	9%	+/-3.5	789
Emerson College (October 26-28, 2018)	N/A	49%	46%	3%	+/-4.3	566
Baldwin Wallace University (October 19-27, 2018)	N/A	39%	39%	22%	+/-3.8	1,051
Suffolk University (October 4-8, 2018)	The Cincinnati Enquirer	46%	40%	14%	+/-4.4	500
Note: A "0%" finding means the question was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]

Click [show] to view older poll results

Governor of Ohio, 2018 Poll Poll sponsor Cordray (D) DeWine (R) Undecided/Other Margin of Error Sample Size Baldwin Wallace University (September 28 - October 8, 2018) N/A 39% 42% 19% +/-3.5 1,017 Triton Polling and Research (September 18-20, 2018) The Ohio Star 44% 49% 8% +/-3.1 1,003 Marist College (September 16-20, 2018) NBC News 47% 47% 7% +/-5.0 564 Ipsos (September 13-20, 2018) Thomson Reuters/University of Virginia 44% 45% 11% +/-3.4 1,074 Baldwin Wallace University (September 5-15, 2018) N/A 37% 42% 21% +/-3.6 1,048 Politico (September 2-11, 2018) AARP 38% 39% 23% +/-2.0 1,592 Change Research (August 31 - September 4, 2018) Innovation Ohio 43% 43% 14% +/-3.0 822 Marist College (June 17-22, 2018) NBC News 42% 46% 13% +/-4.0 946 Quinnipiac University (June 7-12, 2018) N/A 42% 40% 18% +/-3.7 1,082 Suffolk University (June 6-11, 2018) The Cincinnati Enquirer 43% 36% 16% +/-4.4 500 Note: A "0%" finding means the question was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]

Click [show] to view polls conducted before the May 8 primaries

Ohio governor 2018 (Cordray vs. DeWine hypothetical matchup) Poll Poll sponsor Richard Cordray (D) Mike DeWine (R) Undecided/Other Margin of error Sample size Public Policy Polling (May 6-7, 2018) Democratic Party of Ohio 44% 39% 17% +/-3.9 618 Public Policy Polling (April 25-26, 2018) N/A 47% 38% 14% +/-3.5 770 SurveyUSA (March 16-20, 2018) N/A 39% 47% 14% +/-3.5 1,408 Public Policy Polling (January 22-23, 2018) N/A 44% 45% 11% +/-4.1 585 Fallon Research (January 16-19, 2018) N/A 28% 49% 23% +/-3.5 801 AVERAGES 40.4% 43.6% 15.8% +/-3.7 836.4 Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected]. Ohio governor 2018 (Kucinich vs. DeWine hypothetical matchup) Poll Dennis Kucinich (D) Mike DeWine (R) Undecided/Other Margin of error Sample size SurveyUSA (March 16-20, 2018) 38% 51% 12% +/-3.5 1,408 Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected].

PredictIt Prices

This section provides the PredictIt market prices for this race during the three months leading up to the election. PredictIt is a site where people make and trade predictions on political and financial events. Market prices reflect the probability, based on PredictIt users' predictions, that a candidate will win a race. For example, a market price of $0.60 for Candidate A is equivalent to a 60 percent probability that Candidate A will win.

Campaign finance

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Ohio Secretary of State covering all contributions and expenditures between January 1, 2015, and October 17, 2018.

• The DeWine campaign reported having $47,250.70 on hand at the beginning of the campaign cycle from previous elections. All other campaigns had not raised any money prior to January 2015.

Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

• The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association announced a $1 million digital and television ad campaign opposed to DeWine on October 12, 2018.

• Democratic Governors Association-affiliated PAC A Stronger Ohio reserved nearly $2 million in air time in the Columbus media market between September and the November election.

• The Republican Governors Association reserved $2.5 million in air time in the Columbus media market between September 26, 2018, and November 5, 2018.

• Republican Governors Association-affiliated PAC Right Direction PAC reserved $559,000 in the Columbus media market between September 12, 2018, and September 19, 2018.

Race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: Ohio gubernatorial election, 2018
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 5, 2018	October 30, 2018	October 23, 2018	October 16, 2018
The Cook Political Report	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Toss-up	Tilt Republican	Tilt Republican	Tilt Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up	Toss-up
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.

Noteworthy general election endorsements
Endorsement	Cordray (D)	DeWine (R)
Newspapers and editorials
The Canton Repository		✔
The Columbus Dispatch	✔
The Plain Dealer	✔
Elected officials
President Donald Trump (R)		✔
Former President Barack Obama (D)	✔
Former Vice President Joe Biden (D)	✔
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)	✔
Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.)		✔

Click [show] to view a list of endorsements issued in the May 8 Democratic primary

Democratic candidate endorsements Endorsement Date Cordray Pillich* Schiavoni Kucinich O'Neill Federal officials Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) March 12, 2018 ✔ Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) January 22, 2018 ✔ Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) December 6, 2017 ✔ National figures Former Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA) December 12, 2017 ✔ Former Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett December 6, 2017 ✔ State figures Former state Rep. Connie Pillich (D) February 14, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Sean O'Brien (D) Unknown ✔ State Rep. Glenn Holmes (D) Unknown ✔ State Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D) Unknown ✔ State Rep. Michael O'Brien (D) Unknown ✔ Local figures Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz (D) April 26, 2018 ✔ University Heights Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan April 24, 2018 ✔ Newburgh Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins April 24, 2018 ✔ Brooklyn Mayor Katie Gallagher April 24, 2018 ✔ Bedford Mayor Stan Koci April 24, 2018 ✔ Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson (D) April 23, 2018 ✔ Cleveland Council President Kevin Kelley April 23, 2018 ✔ Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish (D) April 23, 2018 ✔ Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer April 23, 2018 ✔ Hamilton County Commission President Todd Portune March 26, 2018 ✔ Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther (D) March 1, 2018 ✔ Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley (D) January 30, 2018 ✔ Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley January 12, 2018 ✔ Organizations Ohio Cannabis Institute May 5, 2018 ✔ The Vindicator April 29, 2018 ✔ The Courier April 26, 2018 ✔ Akron Beacon Journal April 23, 2018 ✔ Center for Somali American Engagement April 15, 2018 ✔ The Plain Dealer April 15, 2018 ✔ Franklin County Democratic Party March 29, 2018 ✔ United Food & Commercial Workers Locals 17A, 75, 880, and 1059 March 21, 2018 ✔ International Chemical Workers Union March 21, 2018 ✔ Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union March 21, 2018 ✔ Ohio AFL-CIO March 6, 2018 ✔ Mahoning County Democratic Party February 28, 2018 ✔ Our Revolution February 20, 2018 ✔ Lorain County Democratic Party February 13, 2018 ✔ EMILY's List February 6, 2018 ✔ Democratic Progressives of Ohio January 4, 2018 ✔ Utility Workers Union of America June 7, 2017 ✔ UNITEHERE! Local 24 March 30, 2017 ✔ VoteVets May 18, 2017 ✔ Communications Workers of America #4300 Unknown ✔ Utility Workers Union of America Unknown ✔ *Pillich withdrew from the race on February 14, 2018.

Click [show] to view a list of endorsements issued in the May 8 Republican primary

Republican candidate endorsements Endorsement Date DeWine Taylor National figures Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) April 19, 2018 ✔ Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) April 5, 2018 ✔ Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) March 6, 2018 ✔ Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) March 5, 2018 ✔ Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) October 19, 2017 ✔ State figures State Rep. Gary Scherer (R) March 10, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Kirk Schuring (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Sarah LaTourette (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Thomas Patton (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Bill Reineke (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Scott Wiggam (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Theresa Gavarone (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Bob Cupp (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Tim Ginter (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Marlene Anielski (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Dave Greenspan (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Mike Duffey (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Laura Lanese (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Jonathan Dever (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Louis W. Blessing, III (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Anthony DeVitis (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Kristina Daley Roegner (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Michael Henne (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Niraj Antani (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. George Lang (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Nathan Manning (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Dick Stein (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Scott Lipps (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Andrew Brenner (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Rick Carfagna (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Steve Hambley (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Darrell Kick (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Scott Ryan (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Larry Householder (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Rick Perales (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Bill Dean (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Tim Schaffer (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Kyle Koehler (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Stephen Huffman (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. James Hoops (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Craig Riedel (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Dorothy Pelanda (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Riordan McClain (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Steven Arndt (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Ryan Smith (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Brian Hill (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ State Rep. Al Landis (R) February 20, 2018 ✔ Former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (R) January 23, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Troy Balderson (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Kevin Bacon (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Bill Beagle (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Dave Burke (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Matt Dolan (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. John Eklund (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Randy Gardner (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Robert Hackett (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Frank Hoagland (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Jay Hottinger (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Stephanie Kunze (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Peggy Lehner (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Gayle L. Manning (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Robert McColley (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Scott Oelslager (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Joe Uecker (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Sen. Bob Peterson (R) January 18, 2018 ✔ State Senate President Larry Obhof (R) January 12, 2018 ✔ Gov. John Kasich (R) July 7, 2017 ✔ Local figures Licking County Commissioner Tim Bubb April 24, 2018 ✔ Cincinnati City Councilwoman Amy Murray (R) January 16, 2018 ✔ Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones January 9, 2018 ✔ Organizations The Courier April 26, 2018 ✔ Akron Beacon Journal April 21, 2018 ✔ The Plain Dealer April 15, 2018 ✔ Ohio Restaurant Association March 13, 2018 ✔ Miami County Republican Party March 11, 2018 ✔ Ohio Value Voters February 16, 2018 ✔ Ohio Right to Life PAC February 12, 2018 ✔ Republican Party of Ohio February 9, 2018 ✔ Buckeye Firearms Association February 7, 2018 ✔ Clermont County Republican Party January 17, 2018 ✔ Franklin County Republican Party December 6, 2017 ✔ Securing Ohio's Future November 30, 2017 ✔ Morgan County Republican Party November 21, 2017 ✔ Summit County Republican Party November 18, 2017 ✔ Lucas County Republican Party October 3, 2017 ✔

Timeline

• November 5, 2018: President Donald Trump (R) headlined a rally supporting DeWine in Cleveland.
• November 3, 2018: Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) headlined a get-out-the-vote rally in support of Cordray in Parma Heights.
• November 2, 2018: Gov. John Kasich (R) headlined a get-out-the-vote rally in support of DeWine in Columbus.
• November 1, 2018: A Gravis Marketing poll found Cordray apparently leading DeWine, with 48 percent support to DeWine's 43 percent. The poll reported a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
• November 1, 2018: A Cygnal poll found Cordray and DeWine about even with 43 percent support each. The poll reported a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
• November 1, 2018: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) headlined a rally in support of Cordray at Ohio State University.
• October 31, 2018: Vice President Mike Pence (R) headlined a get-out-the-vote rally in support of DeWine in Mansfield.
• October 29, 2018: An Emerson College poll found Cordray about even with DeWine, with 49 percent support to DeWine's 46 percent. The poll reported a margin of error of 4.3 percentage points.
• October 29, 2018: Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) headlined a get-out-the-vote rally in support of Cordray in Youngstown.
• October 28, 2018: A Baldwin Wallace University poll found DeWine and Cordray about even with 39 percent support each. The poll reported a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points.
• October 28, 2018: The Canton Repository endorsed DeWine.
• October 25, 2018: The candidates filed campaign finance reports covering funds raised between October 1 and October 17, 2018. DeWine reported raising $4.3 million during this period, including a $3 million loan he issued, while Cordray reported raising $1.6 million.
• October 14, 2018: The Plain Dealer endorsed Cordray.
• October 12, 2018: The American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association launched a $1 million television and digital ad campaign opposing DeWine.
• October 12, 2018: A Suffolk University poll sponsored by The Cincinnati Enquirer found Cordray leading DeWine 46-40. The poll reported a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points.
• October 9, 2018: A Baldwin Wallace University poll found DeWine leading Cordray 42-39. The poll reported a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
• October 8, 2018: Cordray and DeWine met at Cleveland State University for a third debate.
• October 3, 2018: The candidates submitted campaign finance reports indicating their raising and spending for the month of September. Cordray reported raising $2.6 million to DeWine's $2 million.
• October 1, 2018: Cordray and DeWine met for a debate at Marietta College.
• September 30, 2018: The Columbus Dispatch endorsed Cordray.
• September 27, 2018: An NBC News/Marist poll found Cordray and DeWine tied 47-47. The poll reported a 5.0 percent margin of error.
• September 26, 2018: An Ipsos poll found DeWine about even with Cordray, with 45 percent support to Cordray's 44 percent. The poll reported a 3.4 percent margin of error.
• September 21, 2018: A Triton Polling & Research poll found DeWine apparently leading Cordray with 49 percent support to Cordray's 44 percent. The poll reported a 3.1 percent margin of error.
• September 17, 2018: The DeWine campaign released an ad titled Melissa.
• September 16, 2018: A Baldwin Wallace University poll found DeWine apparently leading Cordray 42-37. The poll reported a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.

Policy stances

This section summarizes candidate positions on select policy issues discussed over the course of the election. If you are aware of a significant policy issue in this race, please email us.

Opioids

Ohio had the third-highest nationwide rate of opioid overdoses per capita as of 2016, according to the National Institutes of Health. Its rate of 32.9 opioid-related overdose deaths per 100,000 residents trailed only West Virginia (43.4 deaths per 100,000 residents) and New Hampshire (35.8 deaths per 100,000 residents). The gubernatorial election coincided with a ballot measure proposing modifications to the state constitution mandating that offenses related to drug possession and use be reclassified as misdemeanors and prohibiting those on parole for felonies from being imprisoned for non-felony breaches of parole. Both Cordray and DeWine released opioid crisis plans and weighed in on the ballot measure.

Cordray released a five-point plan for responding to the opioid crisis which called for increased funding for opioid treatment, expansion of Medicaid, and economic development. Cordray supported Issue 1, saying, "You listen to the television commercials and it’s all about fentanyl — how we’ll become some sort of drug dealer’s playground in Ohio if we have any change to the status quo...Newsflash: We are the drug dealer’s playground in Ohio right now."

DeWine released a 12-point plan for responding to the opioid crisis which called for establishing at least 60 more drug courts, increasing funding for drug education and treatment programs, and offering incentives for employers to hire and retain employees impacted by substance abuse. DeWine opposed Issue 1, saying it would allow a drug dealer to carry enough fentanyl to kill 10,000 people without risking jail time: "The people who wrote this thing just didn’t know what they’re doing, and it’s so wrong, it’s stupid and to me it illustrates a lack of judgment."

Campaign advertisements

Richard Cordray

Support

"Path" - A Stronger Ohio ad, released October 22, 2018

"Lying" - Cordray campaign ad, released October 15, 2018

"For and Against" - Cordray campaign ad, released October 11, 2018

"Shouldn't Need" - Cordray campaign ad, released October 3, 2018

"Air Cordray" - Cordray campaign ad, released September 12, 2018

"Bob" - Cordray campaign ad, released September 12, 2018

"Hidden" - Cordray campaign ad, released August 26, 2018

"Truth" - Cordray campaign ad, released August 24, 2018

"Water Bottle" - Cordray campaign ad, released August 15, 2018

"Jobs" - Cordray campaign ad, released August 6, 2018

"Groceries" - Cordray campaign ad, released August 6, 2018

"Quiet Resolve" - Cordray campaign ad, released May 10, 2018

Oppose

"Disaster" - RGA ad, released October 25, 2018

"Shambles" - DeWine campaign ad, released October 22, 2018

"Bad Judgement" - RGA ad, released October 18, 2018

"Don't go back" - DeWine campaign ad, released October 15, 2018

"Lines" - DeWine campaign ad, released October 15, 2018

"Dear Richard Cordray" - DeWine campaign ad, released October 5, 2018

"Say No" - DeWine campaign ad, released October 4, 2018

"Released" - DeWine campaign ad, released September 22, 2018

"Cordray: Failing us AGAIN" - DeWine campaign ad, released September 11, 2018

"Untested" - DeWine campaign ad, released August 22, 2018

"Cordray Failed" - Republican Governors Association ad, released August 9, 2018

"Hacked" - Republican Governors Association ad, released July 18, 2018

Mike DeWine

Support

"Family" - DeWine campaign ad, released October 3, 2018

"Melissa" - DeWine campaign ad, released September 17, 2018

"Tested" - DeWine campaign ad, released September 11, 2018

Noteworthy events

Donald Trump campaign appearance

President Donald Trump (R) headlined a get-out-the-vote rally in Cleveland supporting Republican candidates including DeWine and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Renacci (R) on November 5, 2018.

John Kasich campaign appearance

Gov. John Kasich (R) headlined a get-out-the-vote rally alongside DeWine in Columbus on November 2, 2018.

Elizabeth Warren campaign appearance

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) headlined a rally in support of Cordray at Ohio State University on November 1, 2018.

Mike Pence campaign appearance

Vice President Mike Pence (R) headlined a get-out-the-vote rally on behalf of DeWine, U.S. Senate candidate Jim Renacci (R), and Reps. Troy Balderson (R) and Bob Gibbs (R) in Mansfield on October 31, 2018.

Joe Biden campaign appearances

Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) headlined a get-out-the-vote rally in support of Cordray and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) in Parma Heights on November 3, 2018.

Biden made a campaign appearance alongside Cordray at a get-out-the-vote rally in Youngstown on October 29, 2018.

Barack Obama campaign appearance

Former President Barack Obama (D) made a campaign appearance on behalf of Richard Cordray (D) in Cleveland on September 13, 2018.

Donald Trump Jr. campaign appearance

Donald Trump Jr. made a campaign appearance on behalf of Mike DeWine (R) in Salem on September 13, 2018.

Debates and forums

• Cordray and DeWine met for a debate at Cleveland State University on October 8, 2018. Click here for footage of the debate.
• Cordray and DeWine met for a debate at Marietta College on October 1, 2018. Click here for footage of the debate.
• Cordray and DeWine met for a debate at the University of Dayton on September 19, 2018. Click here for footage of the debate.

Campaign themes

Richard Cordray

Cordray's campaign website stated the following:

“	Ohio's Opioid Crisis A growing Ohio public health crisis is ravaging our families and our communities. Over 17,000 Ohioans died of drug overdoses from 2010-2016, many attributable to abuse of prescribed opioids. Researchers at OSU now estimate the cost of the crisis to Ohio at somewhere between $6.6 billion and $8.8 billion every year. This crisis is killing about 14 Ohioans every day. Many others are effectively disabled by addiction, unable to function or to qualify for many jobs. The number of opioid-related deaths among African-Americans has more than tripled since 2010. Also unconscionable is the fact that 28% of children taken into the state’s protective custody over this period had parents using opioids. Of the children in state care under the age of one, 70% had opioid-involved parents. We must get illegal drugs like heroin and meth off our streets. But as many local law enforcement leaders have made clear, we cannot simply arrest our way out of this problem. Overprescription of painkillers must be restricted. Treatment and prevention efforts must also be front and center. Recent activity forcing the closure of opioid pill mills without adequate human service resources in place have undercut our efforts to address these issues effectively. Local first responders must have the resources and tools they need for prevention, education, and law enforcement efforts stemming from this crisis. Cutting local government funding for first responders has been shortsighted and detrimental. Naloxone continues to be seen by experts as a constructive approach to preventing overdose deaths. Treatment bed availability continues to be a central challenge. After years of inaction, state officials have only recently begun to take any steps to address this crisis that ballooned to epic proportions on their watch. Many cities and counties and states are now belatedly suing pharmaceutical companies and distributors that have directly contributed to Ohioans’ addiction to narcotic painkillers. We must have an all-hands-on-deck effort to stem the crisis plaguing our state. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do Implement “State of Emergency” Coordination – This crisis is like a non-stop hurricane. As Governor, Rich would immediately declare a “state of emergency” requiring the strategic coordination of federal, state, and local government resources and community-based efforts – for both the short run and the long run. We will create clear, reliable channels for information flow about local needs and recommendations, supporting implementation of community-based solutions. Protect the Medicaid Expansion and Increase Local Capacity – Funding for treatment and prevention efforts is critically tied to continuing the Medicaid expansion. We cannot allow this framework and these resources to be rolled back. The state cannot dither while we wait for further guidance from Congress – we must act to protect Ohioans now. Training, data sharing, and program options that support law enforcement and first responders must be reinforced. Better mapping and statistical analysis can allow more effective use of scarce resources. Expand Access and Funding for Prevention and Treatment – We must go further to improve access to prevention and treatment services. Local government funding must be bolstered. Dozens of pending lawsuits must hold companies accountable for harming our people and our communities, and we must require industry officials to provide resources to address the devastating effects. Provide Support and Resources for Families and Improve Foster and Adoptive Services – Family and friends of those struggling with addiction are often left isolated and overwhelmed. More educational and support resources are key to their roles in helping loved ones find successful treatment and recovery. Children who are at risk due to the behavior of parents and caregivers must be protected and supported wherever possible. We must seek new approaches to increase foster and adoptive services for the growing number of children and grandchildren left behind by the opioid crisis. Replace Economic Despair with Broader Economic Opportunity – Clearly this epidemic is substantially a product of economic despair and hopelessness. Along with all of the other needed interventions, people all over Ohio must see that good jobs are available and that an alternative to addiction is a reality. Creating jobs and pathways to those jobs in communities throughout the state, not just in certain enclaves, is another critical element of confronting this crisis successfully. The Cordray-Sutton Proven Record on Fighting Opioid Addiction As Attorney General, Rich teamed up to connect local law enforcement with retailers who sell products used to make methamphetamine. Cooperation and coordination with local law enforcement and local treatment officials are central to fighting the opioid epidemic effectively. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Betty was a steadfast supporter of funding for adequate drug treatment and services, including the ACA, which provided prevention and health services to people across Ohio. Clean Energy Ohio is tragically missing out on the clean energy revolution. We could be creating more good-paying jobs, revitalizing rural communities, reducing energy bills, and improving our air and water quality. Instead, we rank #38 in renewable energy production and #31 for energy efficiency. This is simply unacceptable. Cleveland’s own Charles Brush created the world’s first electric wind turbine in the 19th century to power his home. We cannot allow other states to keep gaining a competitive advantage with companies like Amazon and Apple, which want to expand their operations in places with renewable energy sources to power their businesses. In addition to being a jobs engine, clean energy and energy efficiency are key to addressing climate change that threatens the Great Lakes and Ohio farmland. Ohio should be leading the way, not losing jobs to Michigan and Minnesota. Renewable energy and energy efficiency can play a key role in creating manufacturing jobs and revitalizing rural Ohio. We need to tell companies that Ohio is open for business once again in wind energy, solar energy, distributed generation, and cogeneration. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do Strengthen Ohio’s Renewable Portfolio Standard – In 2008, Ohio adopted one of the nation’s most ambitious renewable energy programs. An OSU study found the program was an economic success, spurring $160 million in annual GDP growth and creating over 3,200 jobs. Consumers also saved over $1.7 billion in electric bills, reducing electricity use by 2.6% and overall energy demand by 2%. In a handout to special interests and a sharp turn away from our future, in 2014 the Ohio legislature passed the first nationwide law to halt renewable portfolio targets. The law put a “freeze” on these goals for two years despite opposition from many Ohio businesses and manufacturers such as Honda, Nestle, and Whirlpool. When that freeze was finally lifted in 2016, Ohio had fallen well behind in the clean energy race as Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan moved aggressively forward to attract clean-energy employers to their states. As governor, Rich will double our renewable energy and energy efficiency targets by 2025. Stop Over-Regulation that has Halted Ohio’s Wind Energy Development – To protect the status quo, in 2014 the supposedly anti-regulation Ohio legislature passed the nation’s most heavy-handed government blockade to developing wind energy. This secretive, last-minute amendment doubled the property line setbacks for wind turbines and has brought new commercial wind projects to a virtual halt. Ohio lost $4.2 billion in economic opportunities. A potential 13,000 jobs were also sacrificed. The Payments In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) revenue over the life of these projects was estimated to be $660 million – and 70% of that would have gone to schools. Another $440 million could have been available to farmers and landowners who would have hosted wind turbines. The legislature’s protection of of special interests has significantly cost rural Ohio. Support Farmers and Public Bodies Like Schools as Sites for More Clean Energy – Many farmers could locate one or more wind turbines on their lands without impairing their existing operations and providing some additional steady income or reduction of costs. Schools and other public bodies could add solar panels to their buildings or wind turbines on their property to add income or reduce costs. The state should use bond financing to provide the support and expertise needed to boost construction and lower the cost of such projects. Invest in Solar Power to Create More Local Jobs – Even with public policies that have undermined the state’s commitment to renewable energy, solar jobs in Ohio continue to grow. A stronger Renewable Portfolio Standard in Ohio law will support more proposals such as AEP’s project to create 400 MW of solar power in Appalachian Ohio, tied to bringing in more solar supply chain businesses. The project will create permanent manufacturing jobs in the region with a commitment to hiring Ohio military veterans. Under Rich’s leadership, the state will pursue more projects that create good construction and maintenance jobs. These efforts will also encourage related support businesses to locate here, as is true right now in other midwestern states. These initiatives will also encourage other businesses from elsewhere to locate in Ohio, both as a matter of corporate preference and because they want reliable and predictable energy bills from power sources that are based on free energy creation, such as from the sun and the wind. The Cordray-Sutton Proven Record on Clean Energy Betty Sutton was a champion of clean energy policy in the Congress, where she led efforts to pass clean energy legislation as a member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee. As Ohio Treasurer, Rich Cordray established a central inventory of state properties, which allowed counties across Ohio to use the inventory to consider potential sites to pursue development of new power sources. As Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Rich worked to make sure that leases for solar projects weren’t being fraudulently misused to harm consumers and responsible businesses in the growing solar industry. Support for Small Business Since 2014, 6 of Ohio’s 7 major economic areas have posted job growth that was below the national average. The Youngstown and Akron areas actually had net job loss over that period. Ohio has fewer jobs today than it had in 2001. Another paper will examine prior and current approaches to job growth, including the past performance of the Department of Development, the current Jobs Ohio program, the Third Frontier initiative, and brownfields redevelopment. But local communities need to be equal partners in job growth strategies, including siting, community development, and workforce development. Currently, many communities in Ohio feel left out or left behind. We must be more effective in spreading economic opportunity around the state. At the same time, we are missing other opportunities that are right in front of us. Small businesses rooted in local communities frequently create quality jobs that stand the test of time. Ohio has 939,317 small businesses (99.6% of all Ohio businesses) that employ 2.1 million people – which is almost half of our private sector workforce. It is widely recognized that small businesses produce the bulk of the new jobs created in this country. Small businesses, nurtured with appropriate resources and support, can foster sustainable economic growth and innovation in communities across Ohio. But making this happen will require intensive focus and effort on the part of state officials who must be willing to partner closely with local communities, local businesses, and local investors and financing sources. It will require a strategy that understands and works with the capital investment markets to bring more, and more timely, venture capital and other bank and non-bank financing into Ohio communities that are in serious need of sustained capital investment to grow jobs and economic opportunity. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do Provide Better Tax Incentives, Grants and Small Business Loans – More effective focus on job training, infrastructure, transportation, and child care initiatives can create new businesses to meet those needs as well as help existing businesses grow in our communities. We need to incentivize business growth with available job training. We will launch “Startup in a Day” to allow entrepreneurs to get all required permits in a single day. We must also allocate specific funds for small businesses and MBE/EDGE companies. More Transparency – Ohio should conduct full audits of development programs that deploy public funds. The essential value and benefit of these efforts must be documented and justified. We need to take measures to ensure accountability and appropriate contract review in these support programs for small businesses. Empower a New Small Business Chief – Laser-like focus on job growth from our small businesses requires 24/7 attention from a senior leader with a strong team. Consolidating responsibility to help small businesses grow jobs includes: Business Services/Business Development Support – Ohio must directly help small businesses access quality, low-interest capital at timely moments. They also need regulatory compliance assistance (pre- and post-launch); business education resources; mentoring/networking for entrepreneurs; help with siting, in partnership with local communities; help matching job seekers with business needs; and guidance and outreach on government contracting opportunities. Community Development – We need competitive grant programs for community-based organizations, training them to build capacity through storefront improvements, neighborhood beautification and revitalization, urban planning, and leadership training to build local capacity. We must spread out this support to small and mid-sized towns around Ohio. Fellowship program should support hiring of recent high school and college graduates to do community development work (an “Ohio Peace Corps for our communities). Economic Empowerment – We must certify minority/women-owned businesses (M/WBE), streamline competition for public contracts; target programs and mentoring; do proactive outreach on contracting opportunities for M/WBEs; help lenders create targeted low-interest loan programs; and encourage more entrepreneurs from historically disadvantaged populations. The Cordray-Sutton Proven Record on Small Business Retention and Attraction Betty supported and Congress passed the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, a major overhaul of SBA loan programs to make it easier for small businesses to get loans and access capital, which saved or created 1.3 million jobs annually. Rich was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Financial Services Champion of the Year for 2008. As Ohio Treasurer, he led Ohio’s GrowNow program of low-interest loans for small businesses, which helped them expand their operations or develop new product lines, all of which produced many thousands of sustainable, high-quality jobs based in our communities. Agriculture and Farming Agriculture employs one in seven Ohioans and contributes over $100 billion a year to our state economy. For years, Ohio has been a leading exporter of soybeans, corn, eggs, and cheese. Ohio farms feed the nation and the world; we must assure that our complex environmental and economic challenges don’t change that. Farmers must have 21st century tools and strategies along with support to adapt to new challenges. When our farms and our farmers are secure and faring well, our rural communities and small towns thrive. But farm communities face one particularly daunting problem that calls for a comprehensive plan of action right now: the opioid crisis. Half of those in rural communities report that they, a family member, or a friend have been directly affected by opioid abuse. For farmers and farm workers, it’s almost 75%. A recurring theme among those surveyed was the extraordinary lack of drug treatment facilities or programs in rural areas. We support the efforts of the “Farm Town Strong” movement to provide resources and information to farm communities and encourage farmer-to-farmer support to overcome the crisis. These challenges are magnified by falling prices for beef, poultry, and pork. Half of our 4,400 dairy farms have been shuttered since 2006. Possible changes in U.S. trade policy pose substantial risks of retaliation that could threaten our farmers and our economy. We need to integrate resources across Ohio to help small communities create jobs and businesses around the agricultural supply chain. Farm communities must benefit from rural development opportunities to counter the challenges they face. Interest in local food eco-systems has never been higher and must be met with action. Ohio farms can continue to feed our state and nation. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do Appoint an Assistant Director of Food Policy and Rural Development in the Ohio Department of Agriculture – Consolidating agricultural and agribusiness functions now at JobsOhio and the Development Services Agency would help expand agricultural export efforts and address effects of possible changes in U.S. trade policy. Reconvening the ODA Food Policy Council with experts from private food businesses; food banks; farm and environmental groups; and other spheres will help build partnerships and inform focused improvements in farm policy. Support Ohio Farmers with Strategic Business and Technical Resources – Family farms often end up consolidating for lack of effective succession planning. Strategic support and increased technical resources from the OSU Extension program along with targeted planning and collaboration from ODA officials would help optimize farming operations and help maintain more small farms. Target the Disproportionate Rural Impact of the Opioid Crisis – Expanded opioid treatment and health care (as discussed in our Opioid Crisis paper) is crucial in rural Ohio. The Ohio Department of Health must identify rural public buildings that can be fully or partially repurposed as opioid treatment facilities. And we must work with USDA’s Ohio Rural Development Agency to provide Community Facilities Loans and grants to fund the conversion of these facilities. The Cordray-Sutton Proven Record on Agriculture and Farming As Ohio Treasurer, Rich improved and expanded access to GrowNOW and Agricultural Linked Deposit Programs. Applicants from all over Ohio created or saved thousands of jobs. Rich’s office invested more than $295 million directly into Ohio small businesses and agricultural enterprises through the programs. In Congress, Betty co-sponsored the National Endowment for Workforce Education in Renewables and Agriculture Act, which sought to create grants to community colleges and advanced technology education centers in Midwestern states to support education and training of technicians in the fields of bioenergy and other agricultural and renewable energy resources. Health Care: Reduced Costs, Reliable Coverage When it comes to health value, Ohio ranks 46th in the nation. We live less healthy lives, yet spend more on health care than people in most states. The Affordable Care Act has helped: people with pre-existing conditions can finally stay covered, and the rate of uninsured Ohioans has been cut in half. Betty Sutton and Rich Cordray will fight to protect those gains for all of us. But there is more that we can do. The real costs of health care for families are often hidden, confusing, and don’t always lead to better outcomes. As Governor, Rich Cordray will ensure all of us can access high-quality health care at affordable prices. He will increase transparency and accountability within our state health care system, increasing oversight on health insurers in the state and moving the whole system to where it should always be – taking care of you. By investing in the programs and preventative care that work, Ohio will spend wisely now to prevent needless expense and unhealthy outcomes in the future. Primary Care: Get Better Value and Better Results The Cordray-Sutton Administration will: Refocus health care spending to reward quality and effective primary care Invest in high-quality value-based payment programs, and use more innovative technology-based solutions such as telehealth Ensure every mother has access to prenatal care to lower costs and ensure healthier children and mothers. Invest in behavioral and mental health. Support early intervention programs for children with mental or behavioral health diagnoses to prevent costly long-term needs. Support intervention programs to reduce obesity and promote smoking cessation. Develop wrap-around services in schools throughout Ohio to ensure more children have direct and easy access to the full spectrum of health and mental health services. Review the effectiveness of the behavioral health system redesign to ensure patients remain the central focus of all changes. Continue the programs, such as Trauma Informed Care trainings, that are working across the state. Coverage alone is not enough. Everyone must also have access to high-quality primary and preventative care for their physical, mental, and behavioral health needs. We know, for example, that women who are or could become pregnant often do not receive the primary care they need. Whether through Medicaid, the insurance marketplace, or employer-sponsored insurance, Rich Cordray and Betty Sutton will raise the quality and availability of primary and preventative care for everyone. Refocus health care spending to reward quality and effective primary care. Health care often is not health care at all – it’s sick care. Effective, quality primary and preventative care is the best way to get and keep people well. Over half of all Ohioans still receive health care coverage through their employer. By leveraging its purchasing power, Ohio can shift how the entire system operates, improving outcomes for everyone. Developing new value-based purchasing programs, using new technology, and monitoring progress towards higher quality are some of the ways the Cordray-Sutton administration will improve the quality of our care. Invest in behavioral and mental health. Primary care is not limited to physical health. We need to ensure all individuals also have access to mental and behavioral health services. Failing to provide these services leaves people in the wrong places – the emergency room, jail, or child custody. No family should have to relinquish custody of their child for lack of coordinated, wrap-around behavioral health services in the community. Redesigning Ohio’s behavioral health system merits close attention. As Governor, Rich Cordray would reconvene interested parties to evaluate the redesign and make changes where needed. For every dollar invested in addiction treatment, states can save as much as $7. Opiate prescriptions are down, but too few Ohioans can access preventative and treatment programs or receive the services that lead to long-term recovery. The Cordray-Sutton administration will evaluate the state’s pilot prevention and treatment programs and expand them to more areas, especially those programs that treat all forms of substance use disorders. Early intervention for children is critical to avoiding costly needs later. We must ensure each child has access to community- and education-based programs such as High-Fidelity (HiFi) Wraparound. We must also support more community members, including first responders, in receiving Trauma Informed Care training. The Cordray-Sutton administration will continue the work of The Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to hold Trauma Informed Care trainings across the state. Increase Transparency and Accountability The Cordray-Sutton Administration will: Review and update oversight at the Departments of Medicaid and Insurance. Clarify policy goals at the Departments of Insurance and Medicaid to ensure consumers remain the central concern. Refocus the Department of Insurance to be a watchdog for consumers. Revisit all of Ohio’s managed care contracts and pharmacy benefit manager relationships for opportunities to bring clarity and transparency to control costs and protect taxpayers and consumers. Review performance standards for managed care organizations to guarantee they are providing true care coordination and making progress in addressing critical chronic illnesses such as diabetes and depression. Bring transparency to health care costs. Work with community partners to invest in outreach and enrollment opportunities so all Ohioans know their coverage options. Leverage national technical assistance programs to ensure each health care dollar is spent wisely. People should come first. The vast size of our health care system has made it impossible for anyone to find accountability and clarity. A new report found that Ohio’s Department of Medicaid paid $223 million to pharmacy benefit managers through the managed care system, yielding excessive profits well beyond industry standards. Our senior citizens, who often live on a fixed income, are particularly vulnerable to these higher costs. As Governor, Rich Cordray will act as a strong watchdog, ensuring that every dollar is wisely spent for you, not special interests. Review and update oversight at the Departments of Medicaid and Insurance. The healthcare landscape has shifted rapidly over the last decade, and accountability measures have not kept pace. At this moment, when lawmakers are just beginning to revamp our behavioral health system, strong leaders are needed. The Cordray-Sutton administration will review the checks in place and increase oversight when needed to ensure plans and providers are working together to place people first. The new administration will thoroughly review the state’s contracts with insurance companies and managed care providers, holding them accountable to their consumers. Leverage opportunities for national technical assistance. Several nationwide initiatives exist to help states improve their health care systems. The Cordray-Sutton administration will leverage these projects. The Pew-MacArthur Results First initiative, for example, provides tools to conduct cost-benefit analyses, helping state leaders identify the programs that are working and those that are not. Ohio will request to join this initiative immediately. As Governor, Rich Cordray will ensure each dollar spent brings value to Ohioans. Ohio must maximize every opportunity to bring resources home that will lower costs and improve outcomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 6/18 Initiative focuses on six high-burden, high-cost health care conditions and provides 18 evidence-based interventions to address them. Under Rich Cordray, Ohio will join the group of states already taking advantage of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded project to bring the 6/18 project here. Bring transparency to health care costs. It is frustrating to walk into a doctor’s office, pharmacy, or hospital not knowing how much a transaction or service will cost. Ohioans are very aware of the cost of their premiums, but they often have no idea what they are getting in return. Increasing transparency will require cooperation from every sector of our health care system. The Cordray-Sutton administration will revitalize the Consumer Services of the Ohio Department of Insurance to provide outreach, education and information to consumers about their health care coverage choices. The administration will work with community partners, especially our faith communities, to invest in outreach and enrollment opportunities. It will bring together payers and providers to find a path towards increased transparency for all consumers. Keep Costs Low and Increase Coverage for Everyone The Cordray-Sutton Administration will: Leverage the Medicaid expansion to ensure health care access for everyone Retain the Medicaid expansion to keep rural hospitals open and lower uncompensated care costs for taxpayers. Maintain the Medicaid expansion to keep insurance premiums low for middle-class Ohioans. Reform the Medicaid payment system to incentivize primary and preventative care in physical and behavioral health. Ensure reliable coverage throughout the state. Keep Ohioans healthy and working by ensuring everyone is able to find coverage, including through affordable marketplace plans. Recruit and retain more health professionals to ensure that all Ohioans have access to preventive and primary care services. Increase and improve loan repayment opportunities. Review licensing requirements. Expose young students to the opportunities available in health center careers. Utilize more innovative technology-based solutions such as telehealth. When we all have access to health insurance, the costs are lower for everyone. The more people covered, the more people who can access care at the right time and in the right setting, staying out of the emergency room and avoiding uncompensated care, which drives up all of our premiums. Better coverage for everyone – children, adults, and seniors – affords us all the opportunity to get and stay healthy. To make sure everyone can use their insurance, we must ensure we have enough health care providers to meet the need. Protect the Medicaid expansion. By covering those who make too little to afford health care on their own, we reduce uncompensated care and lower the premiums paid by everyone. In a recent study, over half of the employed workers who received coverage under expansion said that having health care coverage made it easier to keep working. Providing coverage means people get and stay healthy, reducing government assistance and increasing tax revenues. In that same study, almost 75% of individuals said the Medicaid expansion made it easier to look for work – and healthy Ohioans work. Improve the Medicaid expansion for its consumers. Expansion doesn’t just help those who receive coverage under it. Expansion covers thousands of non-custodial parents who need to stay healthy to help care for their children. Rural hospitals depend on expansion to keep their doors open. And as more people have stable coverage, hospitals and health professionals have incentives to expand or keep their services. Thanks to the Medicaid expansion, Community Health Centers have added new locations, hired more staff and extended their hours of service. Under the Medicaid expansion, we all have greater access to the services we need. Recruit and retain more health professionals. We cannot have a quality system without quality providers. We know our state lacks providers in physical primary care, dentistry, and mental health and addiction treatment. We should find ways to invest in our people and provide paths for them to stay or return to their communities as health care providers. Rich and Betty will increase loan repayment opportunities for those who commit to work in underserved areas of the state; review licensing requirements to allow workers from outside the state to more easily come and work here; and build a workforce pipeline by giving young students exposure to health care professions. Increasing the number of services available through telehealth technology will help bring services to underserved areas. Reducing Gun Violence We are facing an epidemic of gun violence in Ohio and across our country. While horrific mass shootings have captured headlines, the leading incidents of gun violence in Ohio are the daily homicides and suicides that often escape media attention. Gang violence and gun battles have taken too many young men from our urban communities. Armed domestic abusers have too many women fearing for their lives. Too many avoidable suicides are committed with firearms. We cannot simply stand by and watch, hoping that the situation will get better while the steady horror of gun violence affects our communities, our families, and our schools. We must work to find concrete, practical solutions that will reduce gun violence and save lives. We must balance the rights of responsible gun owners with the demands of public safety. We must craft measures that will keep all Ohioans safe by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and those who would commit mass shootings. We must reduce the suicides, domestic violence, and gang violence that are responsible for too many gun deaths in urban, suburban, and rural areas. And we must allow responsible gun owners the freedoms granted by our U.S. and Ohio Constitutions. The numbers are truly alarming. Since 1999, firearm deaths in Ohio have risen 58%. In 2016, over 1500 Ohioans were killed by a gun. Nearly 75% of Ohio homicides were committed with a gun and 1 out of 5 guns bought in Ohio is recovered from a crime scene within two years. And we are not acting as good neighbors – Ohio ranks near the top in having guns bought here used in a crime in another state. But homicides only tell part of the story. Suicides by firearms have been rising since 2009. In 2016, Ohio had over 50% more suicides involving a firearm than homicides. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do Require Universal Background Checks – Background checks on all gun sales would prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands, including criminals, the mentally ill, and domestic violence abusers. We should close all loopholes to safeguard Ohioans against the potential for gun violence by high-risk individuals. And we must aggressively enforce laws against straw purchases of firearms and the theft of firearms, which are the means that are commonly used to circumvent background checks and restrictions against felons possessing firearms. Ban Sale of High-Capacity Magazines and Bump Stocks – These steps would prevent legal firearms from being transformed into illegal weapons to use in mass shootings. Firearms too easily become weapons of war when they are enhanced by high-capacity magazine clips, “bump stocks,” and other potential mechanisms that have no conceivable use other than to evade legal restrictions on the sale and use of fully-automatic weapons. Any such mechanisms should be illegal. Align the Minimum Age to Purchase All Classes of Firearms – Federal law allows individuals under age 21 to purchase firearms, and Ohio law allows those under age 21 to purchase long guns, but not handguns until they turn 21. These laws were passed at different times and have never been rationalized with one another. Ohio should align these laws by raising the age for the purchase of all firearms to 21 years old. Enhance the Safety of Our Schools and Reduce Suicides – By placing certified school resource officers on-site in schools to enhance security, help spot warning signs, train personnel, monitor ingress and egress, speed emergency response times, and implement measures and protocols to enhance the physical security of our school buildings, we can save lives. We can also provide for Extreme Risk Protection Orders that would allow law enforcement to temporarily bar a person from having access to firearms where, after a court proceeding compliant with due process rights, it is determined that the person is a danger to himself or others. Appoint a Gun Violence Prevention Czar – The czar will coordinate a comprehensive statewide response to reducing gun violence by supporting local law enforcement efforts, aiding and funding tip hotlines, improving mental health efforts, and providing resources and best practices to local officials. Create Gun Violence Task Forces – These task forces will use proven tactics from Ohio and in cities around the country to target illegal gun trafficking and gang violence, and to stage early interventions to stop likely offenders from committing gun crimes, including heavy penalties for committing a crime with a gun. The Cordray-Sutton Proven Record on Responsible Gun Ownership Rich has advocated for responsible gun ownership throughout his career. He understands and respects the freedoms granted by the U.S. and Ohio Constitutions and how they must be judged in light of the responsibilities inherent in those freedoms. He has always worked to balance the individual’s Second Amendment rights with the need for public safety in our communities. dBetty has long supported common sense gun safety reforms. In the Congress, she co-sponsored legislation to provide universal background checks and increase criminal penalties for violations of criminal background check requirements. Betty opposed the sale of guns to those convicted of domestic violence and advocated to limit high-capacity magazine clips. Early Childhood Early childhood services help the entire family: they give children the start they need to succeed and enable parents to focus on getting and keeping good-paying jobs that can support their families. Because 90% of a child’s brain develops even before his or her 5th birthday, an investment in our children is an investment in Ohio’s future. The investments made from the State of Ohio, however, have too often come a day late and a dollar short. We spend $1.1 billion each year on child care programs, but less than one-third of eligible young children in Ohio receive publicly-funded child care. Meanwhile, only one-sixteenth of the state’s investment in education is spent on children between the ages of 0 and 5. Play is serious business for young children, and investing in early childhood services pays direct dividends later. Children with access to high-quality early childhood experiences during their first five years of life are significantly more likely to graduate from high school, earn higher wages, and report better health. Children who start behind, however, usually stay behind. They are more likely to fall behind in school, rely on public assistance programs, and end up violating the law. Research shows that high-quality early childhood services are perhaps our best tool for building a skilled workforce by giving children the chance to develop key social, emotional, and academic skills. They also support parents, making them more likely to pursue further education, find a job, and boost workforce productivity. Providing these opportunities will strengthen Ohio’s economy today while building the workforce we need tomorrow and for decades to come. We can’t forget that for our parents who work for hourly wages, flexibility is key. Those working irregular hours, late shifts, or weekends should have the same access to quality child care as those working traditional 9-5 jobs. We need to bridge the gaps for Ohio’s most vulnerable children as they start out on the road of life, keeping them with their families and supporting parents and caregivers. By providing truly accessible and quality early childhood services, we will not only position our youngest Ohioans for lifelong success but also yield the greatest return on our investment for Ohio taxpayers. The Cordray Sutton Administration Will: Expand Access to Quality Child Care We say we value our children, but our policies fall short in both cost and quality. In Ohio, working families often have to allocate far too much of their income to pay for child care. The average cost for young children ranges between $7,000 to $11,000, rendering it practically inaccessible to many. And with child care costs growing faster than the average costs of other household needs, families sometimes spend more on child care than on food or housing. Access to child care should mean that the care provided is both of good quality and flexible. We know high-quality child care programs lead to fewer visits to the hospital, better school attendance, and higher test scores for Ohio’s at-risk children, but only 29% of the child care providers that receive public funding are rated at all. A quality child care location will provide the crucial social and emotional learning and support needed for long-term success that can extend beyond individuals and their families, leading to higher average wages, less crime, and less social spending. But not all child care needs occur during the standard 9-5 workday. Working parents need options that exist close to home and at the times when they are actually working – which is often later at night or on the weekends for many who earn an hourly wage. To ensure that families have the flexibility and access they need, we will make it easier for families to qualify for publicly-funded child care. Indeed, only two states in the country make it harder to qualify right now than we do here. Families in Ohio can only qualify if they earn less than 130% of the federal poverty line, meaning a mother of two who earns roughly $27,000 is not even eligible. We will expand access to quality child care by raising the eligibility limit to at least 150% of the federal poverty level. Under this new standard, working parents would have the support they need to provide for their family and find success in the workplace to break out of poverty. We will also ensure that child care programs across the state are adequately supported. In 38 counties – over one-third of the state – child care providers are paid less than their counterparts elsewhere, making it much harder for them to improve their services and provide the training needed to maintain quality and retain effective providers and staff. We will work to ensure that all providers have access to the resources to provide supportive and quality care to their charges. Finally, we will push for state tax credits to offset the high costs of child care and provide direct relief to more working families. Support and Improve Early Education Programs The evidence is crystal clear: pre-school programs prepare our youngest children for success in the classroom and beyond. Children with access to early education enter kindergarten with a stronger grasp of the language, literacy, and math skills that are central to navigating our society. The long-term benefits of good early education are undeniable – children who receive those services are more likely to end up healthy and hold good-paying jobs. But Ohio is behind the curve. Only 40% of the state’s kindergarteners come to the classroom ready to learn. It’s no surprise then, that roughly the same proportion of our adult workforce has a degree or credential after high school. Without access to early education, children are less likely to have the key social and learning skills they need to succeed later at school and in the workplace. We will utilize the existing Child Care Resource and Referral System as regional hubs, providing help and support to connect families and early childhood care and educators, building more comprehensive early education programs. We will look for ways to spread best practices and evidence-based programs to those working in this space. From Cincinnati’s passage of Issue 44 in 2016, to Montgomery County’s Pre-School Promise initiative, to Cuyahoga County’s PRE4CLE program, communities across the state are getting smart about this critical need. They are increasingly investing in the future of our youngest children to give them a better chance to thrive. There are a multitude of state agencies and programs that help teach and care for our children. Our administration will establish a single office dedicated to connecting all these efforts to assure children are receiving the best education and care possible. The office will support teachers; share nationally developed curricula, research, and cutting-edge methods; coordinate funding streams; advocate for public policy; and review existing programs – whatever is necessary to support and improve Ohio’s early education programs and to support all participants. We will also provide adequate funding for these programs and ensure every child has access to early education. In Ohio and across the nation, parents of young children say the main reason they don’t send their kids to preschool is because they can’t afford it. It’s time to address that need. The Cordray-Sutton administration will develop a comprehensive funding plan that supports high-quality early education programs. Build on Ohio's Home Visiting Programs Ohio’s home visiting programs need to start even before birth to help expecting mothers who lack strong support systems. They then need to continue to allow motivated parents to learn how to succeed in their new role and provide children with a safe, stimulating environment during a critical period of their development. Studies have shown that for every dollar invested in these programs, there is a $5.70 return. Young children suffer fewer major injuries, families become more self-sufficient, and students score higher on their tests. Last year, over 9,600 families participated in Ohio’s home visiting programs. But there is more we can do to teach parents the necessary skills to position their children for success. Ohio’s state-funded Help Me Grow program, for example, reaches less than 4% of eligible families each year. We must build on the effective programs now in place by expanding their reach and making them available to even more Ohioans. Betty Sutton and I will enhance the quality of our home visiting services by improving the way we train staff, collect data, and evaluate existing programs. We will also integrate these existing home-visiting programs into a more comprehensive early childhood service system, coordinating with state agencies and hospitals that also serve young children. By building on practices that have already proven to get results, we will expand the reach of our home-visiting programs and ensure many more families get this essential support during those crucial first years of childhood. Strengthen Ohio's Foster and Kinship Care System In the wake of the opioid crisis, more than 15,000 children rely on foster and adoptive services in Ohio. When it comes to state support for these services, however, Ohio ranks 50th in the nation. Children need stable and safe environments to thrive. The state will work to improve respite care and mentoring programs to help families stay together. When other caregivers are needed, we will recruit more supportive foster families and other family members through kinship care to ease the strain on the system. Recent steps by state legislators are encouraging, but more is needed to ensure every child has a loving and supportive home. We will explore ways to increase support for foster families, along with Kinship Child Care and Permanency Initiative programs. Finally, we will support every aspect of a child’s well-being by having Medicaid providers and insurers address the mental and physical needs of children exposed to trauma. We will also coordinate with state agencies to ensure anyone working with children is trained to provide trauma-informed care. By tailoring health care for our foster children and their unique needs, we can position them from childhood to live healthy lives. Seniors and Retirement Ohio is a great place to live and make a home: to raise a family, go to school, work, and grow a business. And it can be, and should be, a great place to age with dignity and respect and to retire securely, surrounded by family and friends and with strong support from community programs and resources. Investing today in the well-being of our seniors is the right thing to do and will help us retain and attract more retirees to live here. Ohio’s senior population is expected to double by 2040. Their diverse needs require planning and appropriate support. OSU researchers have shown that connecting more seniors to resources already available directly raises their quality of life and reduces costs of chronic illness and long-term crisis intervention. Too many seniors lack this support, and we need to change that. We must focus on developing and training a high-quality workforce in the medical and helping professions. We need to support the caregivers who treat our seniors with the dignity and respect they have earned and assure the kind of broad support that our growing and increasingly diverse community of seniors demands. We should invest strategically to assure access to affordable places to live and other critical resources. AARP estimates that about 2 million Ohioans work in jobs with no retirement plan. We will explore and adopt new approaches to provide more retirement planning and investment options to them, providing comfort that their futures are more secure. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do Establish a “Retire as a Buckeye” Initiative – Seniors deserve affordable housing in accessible communities with robust transportation options. Ohio should design a focused and tangible effort to partner with local communities to: Boost outreach and Increase awareness of the programs and services that are already available for home-based living and care. Improve investments in caregiver support, including respite care. Expand Meals on Wheels and other mobile services for healthcare support. Provide for senior financial management education and fraud protection. Create a Retirement Savings Plan Option for Those Who Lack Access Through Their Employer – Many Ohioans lack access to any retirement savings plan option at their workplace. This includes self-employed; seasonal, temporary, and contract workers; part-time workers; and employees who are excluded from eligibility for their company retirement programs. We will explore tax incentives for more employers to provide a framework for retirement planning and investment. We will also adapt reform measures from other states to create a retirement savings plan option for those who lack access to one in the workplace – setting a framework that will enable all working Ohioans to secure their own futures. Launch a Life Expectancy Improvement Task Force – The Ohio Department of Aging should leverage its resources to maximize equity in life expectancy for all Ohioans. The Task Force will focus on improving health and longevity, with crucial attention to those facing shortened life expectancies based on race, ethnicity, and poverty. In addition, the Task Force will work with local communities to conduct outreach and awareness campaigns to assure that seniors across Ohio know more about the services and support systems that are already available to them but are not currently being utilized. And it will focus the resources of state government on supporting caregivers and developing and training a high-quality workforce in the medical and helping professions. Lower Benefit Age Thresholds in Health Care Systems – Ohio health care providers will be encouraged and assisted to provide wellness information earlier than at the typical ages of 60-65. An individual who is turning 50 should receive comprehensive information, in a form that is easily understandable, to identify available programs, eligibility requirements, contact information, and supportive resources to prepare for the changes and challenges of aging into senior status. The Cordray-Sutton Proven Record on Seniors and Retirement As County Treasurer, Rich established programs for property tax relief and assistance to seniors in danger of losing their homes. As Director of the Consumer Bureau, Rich led creation of the “Planning for Retirement” tool that helps consumers across the country decide when to claim Social Security and maximize benefits. It also helps families and friends face the challenges of “Managing Someone Else’s Money” with a unique resource that helps financial caregivers understand and manage fiduciary responsibilities appropriately. Betty has been a champion for seniors who fought to strengthen and expand Medicare and Social Security in Congress. She opposed the Ryan budget cuts that would have ended Medicare as we know it and co-sponsored legislation to require the HHS Secretary to negotiate lower prescription drug prices in the Medicare Part D program. A member of the U.S. House Seniors Task Force, Betty fought against efforts to privatize Social Security and received a 100% rating from the Alliance of Retired Americans. K-12 Education We believe that public schools are the most crucial investment Ohio can make. We have a vision for Ohio’s children that supports them through every phase of life, starting with our plans for early childhood and including workforce development. At the heart of this focus lies our vision for Ohio’s schools that involves local communities, elevates our educators, and supports every aspect of a child’s well-being – regardless of background, socioeconomic status, or developmental challenges. This holistic approach is needed now more than ever. In 2010, Ohio’s public schools ranked fifth in the nation. Since then, due to piecemeal legislation passed without educator input or adequate funding, Ohio schools have slipped to 22nd. Although our public schools face many challenges and are asked to do more than ever before, state lawmakers have steadily funneled resources away from them to vouchers and scandal-ridden charter schools. Ohio must take a comprehensive approach to education that stretches far beyond the classroom. We will do that by meeting the needs of the whole child. If we want the best for all of Ohio’s students, then we must put their needs first and support the communities that help them reach their full potential. Our students deserve better, and the state has a moral and legal obligation to demand it. The Cordray-Sutton Administration will support Ohio’s students by: Expanding wrap-around social and health services Public schools are the center of their communities. The two are linked — one cannot succeed without the other. Schools need communities invested in educating their students; communities need schools that support their neighborhoods outside of the classroom. To ensure that all students can succeed academically, including those who are differently abled, schools must have access to the full range of physical and mental resources to meet their needs, along with parents and the entire community. We will help our communities support the entire student experience, offering more services for students and families who need them. Services like mental health, dental, after-school, and parent support programs will establish our schools as the center of our neighborhoods – as they should be. Several districts have already recognized that the most effective way to help our students is to help their communities, and we can use them as our models. Providing better access to social and mental health services is a key part of making our schools safer. Each district has unique challenges, but by learning and adapting these examples, we will take meaningful steps to give all students the education they need, in the environment they deserve. Leaving more time for learning For too long, Ohio’s schools have been hyper-focused on test scores. These policies fail to realize that different students learn in different ways with their own strengths and interests. Overtesting, combined with inadequate funding, have narrowed the curriculum in a way that pushes out art, music, and other meaningful ways to engage students. Ohio is one of 12 states with high-stakes testing for high school graduation. Although testing remains a necessary benchmark, we will move away from using high-stakes tests to drive learning and instead give students the tools to become resilient, lifelong learners. We will reduce testing to the federally mandated minimum. We will grant educators more freedom to engage students in learning social, emotional, and academic skills instead of spending their limited resources on preparing for standardized tests. Teachers are well trained to teach our children, and we must stop hindering them by over-regulating the classroom setting. We will also reconsider more broadly how we evaluate our schools and teachers. Our administration will work with the State Board of Education and the legislature to shift away from a cycle of testing and punishing to a system where students, educators, parents, and the community all share responsibility for our children’s future. Securing adequate funding for education professionals Budget cuts have forced many school districts to cut back on hiring education professionals like librarians, nurses, guidance counselors, and social workers. Like our teachers, these education professionals are an essential piece of our vision for educating the whole child. We trust our educators, and we will honor the professionalism that all of them – our teachers, bus drivers, food service personnel, support staff, and before- and after-school staff – bring to our schools and our students. Our children benefit from a well-rounded education, and they benefit from the services provided by essential support staff to help them thrive. Effective schools are more than a cluster of independently-run classrooms. Our teachers excel at teaching our children, but they need more people working with them to support their students’ full range of needs – both inside and outside the classroom. We will work with districts to provide resources that focus on the whole child. Attracting and retaining good teachers No one becomes a teacher thinking they will leave in just a few years – it’s a calling more than a career. But budget cuts and unfunded mandates have contributed to a growing teacher shortage. If we plan to keep providing our children with a quality education, we need to attract and retain good teachers. Our administration will restore respect for the profession, leveraging available federal funds to recruit more well-trained, certified educators. We will also create loan repayment and financial incentives that encourage our certified educators to remain in the classroom. Purging Ohio's charter schools of corruption For-profit charter schools were responsible for one of the worst scandals in our state’s history. Over six years, the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow cheated taxpayers out of nearly $600 million and thousands of children out of their education. Our schools are not businesses, and our children are not customers. But those involved in the ECOT scandal put their own profits above our students’ needs, and Republican state legislators aided their theft of taxpayer funds. We will prohibit for-profit companies from running charter schools, limiting their operation instead to non-profit entities. We will strengthen the state’s charter oversight system, requiring operators to demonstrate a record of academic success before contracting with schools in Ohio, and requiring existing schools to demonstrate academic growth and achievement to maintain their standing. But our challenges do not end with the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow and for-profit charter schools. Charter schools are exempt from many state education laws that apply to Ohio’s traditional public schools. We will see to it that no school gets special treatment, and that all schools are held accountable to the same standards. Making school funding more transparent Charter schools and voucher programs also drain resources from the public schools that educate 90% of Ohio’s children. Since 2010, Ohio’s public schools have received much less state funding while funding for charter schools has increased. Over the next two years, charter schools will siphon nearly $2 billion from school districts – despite performing worse on average than traditional public schools. We will ensure districts have the full resources they need to give our students a comprehensive education. Under our administration, any public funding for charters and vouchers will come directly from the state. We will eliminate the complex system of transfers that often results in a funding gap for taxpayers to fill through local levies. Ohio’s tax dollars should remain in the classroom, not be used to pad companies’ bottom lines. Respecting local control of charter schools Different schools have different needs, and we will trust each local, elected school board to know what its own students and families value. We will respect the full range of paths available to students in transitioning to college or a career – vocational training, apprenticeships, and other similar options. We will also end the undemocratic practice of state takeovers for low-performing school districts, which only silence community efforts to help our children succeed. Instead of taking local control away from elected leaders, we will work with our communities by providing the time and resources they need to transform struggling schools into thriving ones. Workforce Development Today’s economy is constantly shifting and the pace of change is accelerating. We must prepare our current and future workforce with the education and training they need to successfully shift with it. Over the next decade, employers across the state will post 1.6 million job openings and, in order for Ohio families to benefit from those jobs, we must empower Ohioans with the skills they will need to thrive. Nearly two-thirds of those jobs will require some form of education or skills training beyond high school. Right now, Ohio has more open jobs than people who can fill them. It’s not for lack of trying – most people want very much to work. But if we don’t chart a new path, by 2025, almost 2 million Ohioans will lack the training needed to fill current, evolving, and future jobs. This skills gap is hurting both employers and employees alike. Businesses need workers with the right skills, and workers need new opportunities to support their families with good-paying jobs that secure their foothold in the middle class. College is one path to the middle class – but not the only path. Whether they are just starting a career or transferring skills to a new path later in life, all Ohioans should have the freedom to make the educational choices that are best for them – whether that means four years of college, a two-year degree, vocational school, apprenticeships, certifications, or some other more flexible form of skills training. Strengthening Ohio’s workforce is perhaps the most pressing economic challenge we face as a state. The costs of inaction are high. Companies have made clear that they will grow and locate only where they are confident they can hire talented and skilled employees. Meanwhile, workers cannot risk spending their time and money on training or education that will not lead to a good-paying job. Without addressing the skills shortage, the full economic potential of our people and our communities will remain unfulfilled. Our workforce development plan will ensure that every Ohioan has the skills they need to enter an increasingly competitive labor force and support themselves and their families. We will connect workers to training in our fastest-growing industries: health care, education, construction, advanced manufacturing, and computer systems. The Cordray-Sutton administration will close the skills gap in a way that makes sense for Ohio, building a workforce ready for the kinds of good-paying jobs that will be available today and tomorrow. To restart Ohio’s job engine, the Cordray-Sutton Administration will: Put Workers First For years, Ohio’s workforce development efforts have emphasized employers rather than employees. We will reverse that approach. Instead of emphasizing flashy tax incentives solely focused on attracting out-of-state companies, the Cordray-Sutton administration will fashion tax incentives that are designed to develop a workforce equipped with the skills that employers need to grow their business and that will empower Ohio workers to excel. The first step to a stronger workforce begins by ensuring our workers have the skills they need to get and keep a good-paying job. The good news is that Ohio already has a number of resources to help accomplish this goal – businesses, community organizations, and the state all want to see Ohioans succeed. But as our economy shifts, so must the way we tackle the problem. Rich Cordray and Betty Sutton believe we must tackle it by placing each worker – you – at the center of our efforts. Refocus the Office of Workforce Transformation to support workers Since Governor Kasich created the Office of Workforce Transformation in 2012, the agency has focused its resources largely on identifying the needs of businesses. Six years later, we now know much more about those needs, so it’s time to shift the focus to support our best resource: our people. It’s not enough to identify our needs if we can’t also help fill them – and our workers cannot get these jobs if they do not acquire the necessary skills. The Office of Workforce Transformation will adopt a “worker first” mission similar to other successful programs around the country that focus on boosting workers’ education and skills. By refocusing the Office of Workforce Transformation, we will also coordinate the state’s fragmented job training efforts. There are no less than fourteen agencies and programs run by the state of Ohio that touch on workforce development. Training providers like Ohio Technical Centers and OhioMeansJobs Centers typically operate in silos, making it difficult to communicate effectively about resources and results. We will organize our state agencies into an integrated, coherent system – led by the Office of Workforce Transformation. With a clear vision, the newly energized office will lead new efforts to bring creativity and flexibility to remove barriers that prevent workers from succeeding. Invest federal funds in workforce development programs for our fastest-growing industries In the last budget, Ohio received almost $328 million from the federal government through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to support workforce development programs. Most of these dollars flow to county-level programs, whose community connections to employers are critical. The Governor is able to direct almost $50 million of those dollars to specific priorities. The Cordray-Sutton administration will ensure that Ohio’s discretionary WIOA funds are used to directly support training programs for our fastest-growing industries and removing barriers to employment. A quarter of all new jobs that Ohio is projected to add before 2024, for example, are in health care. Ohio’s federal dollars will support programs preparing workers to enter careers in health care, education, construction, advanced manufacturing, and computer systems. Offer more apprenticeships and create Lifelong Learning and Training Accounts (LLTAs) To get and keep a good-paying job, workers must first acquire some post-secondary credential and then continue to upgrade their skills over time. For many workers, vocational training offers a viable path into a new career – without the crushing debt of four years of college. Apprentices are paid for their time spent on the job, accumulate almost no debt, and earn solid middle-class wages after completing their program. They create life-long attachments to the companies and communities where they put down roots. We will build a strong workforce by partnering with our public universities, community colleges, labor unions, and manufacturers to provide more industrial apprenticeships. Workers also need training throughout their careers to adapt to trends we cannot yet anticipate. As their circumstances shift, they will need our help not once, but several times, as they translate their skills to shift from one career to the next. In Ohio, we will create Lifelong Learning and Training Accounts (LLTAs) that will encourage workers to invest in their own education and training. The accounts would follow workers from job to job, regularly preparing them for their first career – and every career that comes after. Continue and build on the work of the Office of Opportunities for New Americans Governor Kasich did the right thing when he recently created the Office of Opportunities for New Americans to help legal immigrants successfully integrate into Ohio’s economic life. We will fully embrace the new Office and bolster its efforts to link new Ohioans with opportunities for training and jobs, as well as providing appropriate recognition and credit for training and education obtained elsewhere around the world. It is the right thing to do, and it is in line with our Ohio values. Remove or limit barriers to employment like non-compete clauses Ohio workers are often asked to sign non-compete clauses in employment contracts that restrict their rights to pursue new career opportunities. It is not only workers in skilled or high-level positions who are affected: over 1 in six workers are currently covered by non-compete agreements, even those that may be quite inappropriate. And in recent years, these clauses have also become more common in low-wage, low-skilled professions like cashiers, janitors, and hair stylists – workers that largely lack specialized skills or knowledge of trade secrets. Non-compete clauses keep businesses from hiring the workers they need and keep workers from taking the jobs they want and for which they are trained and experienced. They can hurt families by forcing Ohioans to move and take jobs out of state or can force them into taking lower-paying jobs that do not build on their skills and employment backgrounds. For many vulnerable workers, just the threat of legal action is enough to scare them into limiting their career mobility, and Ohio has some of the harshest legal rules in the nation in this area. We will work to insert occupation-specific exemptions or limitations upon non-compete clauses that are based on geographic or temporal or substantive skill-based restrictions, this removing a significant barrier to job mobility and continued employment for a growing number of Ohio workers. Help Our Employers Help Their Workers The economic priorities of Republican leaders in Columbus do not include nearly enough support for the small business owners and entrepreneurs who hire most of Ohio’s workforce. We provide plenty of subsidies to some of the largest corporations with the best lobbyists, but we don’t provide the same level of support for the small businesses that are responsible for most of Ohio’s net job creation. Those priorities will change under the Cordray-Sutton administration. We will build an economy where local Ohio companies – and their workers – are prioritized for success and growth. Adopt skills-based hiring practices We should value workers for their ability to do the work, not the number of degrees they have. The State of Ohio will set an example as the first major employer to adopt skills-based hiring practices. Over 52,000 Ohioans work in agencies or commissions under the control of the Governor. Hundreds of thousands more work for companies that have contractual relationships with the state government. The Cordray-Sutton administration will make it a priority, wherever possible, to value skills over credentials when hiring new employees and entering new contracts. In the process, Ohio will deepen the talent pool, increase diversity in the workplace, decrease the time it takes to fill open positions, and increase retention rates. Appoint a Small Business Chief For first-time business owners, navigating the maze of state and local permits and regulations can be very daunting. The Small Business Chief and his or her team will provide 24/7 help to new business owners trying to make sense of the regulations, licensing, and all the other responsibilities of being an employer. The office will help business owners find financial help by connecting them with the right services and funding sources. They will also eliminate unnecessary red tape that gets in the way of growing small businesses and creating new jobs. The Small Business Chief will identify relevant programs for minority- and women-owned businesses and provide tools to help them navigate through the challenges they face. In short, the Ohio Small Business Chief will have an open door and serve as a ready resource for employers, leaving them more freedom to expand and create good-paying jobs. Veterans and Servicemembers Veterans and servicemembers deserve the highest gratitude and respect our country and state can offer. Our government must ensure access to opportunities and tools that provide a high quality of life to those who have risked their lives to protect and preserve our democracy, our liberty, and our freedom. Veterans, servicemembers, and their families face distinct challenges that require attention and resources to address. In particular, the government should be ensuring that veterans have access to adequate health care coverage, potential job placement options, employment protections, the opportunity to pursue additional education, and a streamlined state certification and licensing process to simplify and expedite their transition to civilian life, where their leadership and skills enhance our communities. In addition to providing resources and support, the Cordray-Sutton Administration will be an active advocate for veterans, servicemembers, and their families, just as Rich was at the Consumer Bureau. While there, Rich had an entire department focused on identifying and stopping scams and frauds that target servicemembers and their benefits – such as educational support and insured home and car loans. With state officials who respect and value the challenges and achievements of those who serve our country, Ohio’s servicemembers, veterans, and their families can rest assured they have allies in the Statehouse who have their backs and look out for them. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do Protect and Maximize Health Care Coverage and Other Services Help veterans submit disability claims by providing adequate resources for our Veterans Service Commissions and Veterans Service Organizations. Provide a voluntary “I’m a Veteran” check box on Ohio tax returns so the Cordray-Sutton Administration can identify and follow up with individuals to match them with available benefits and services. Support veterans with mild traumatic brain injury with employer tax breaks and other incentives to hire them and provide on-the-job support. Expand suicide prevention and community engagement programs to help veterans coping with civilian transition issues, especially mental health issues. Support and strengthen the VA system and Ohio veterans’ access to it. And maintain Ohio’s medicaid expansion, which is critical to veterans who are not eligible for VA care. Support Job Placement and Employment Protections Increase job opportunities by permitting private sector employers to offer a hiring preference for veterans and the families of servicemembers. Help veterans start civilian job searches with “veterans preference” personnel/desks at county JFS, Veteran Services Commission, and library job search centers. Streamline state certification and licensing for veterans and military family members seeking jobs with those requirements. Mandate job protection during state-sponsored national guard activation. Permit military spouses to be eligible for Ohio unemployment compensation and other services when they must leave a job due to a military transfer. Bolster State Support for Veterans, Servicemembers and Their Families Renew the fight against predatory payday lenders, especially those that target veterans, servicemembers and their families. Expand Ohio National Guard Assistance to military families. Provide homeless veterans with better VA and veterans court coordination. Support the military community, especially those newly arriving in Ohio, by requiring all state agencies to regularly report on the support they provide to veterans and the special needs of military families. The Cordray-Sutton Proven Record on Veterans and Servicemembers At the CFPB, Rich and his team returned over $200 million to servicemembers and their families that had been cheated by unscrupulous predatory lenders. CFPB staff were deployed to 150 military installations to help veterans and servicemembers with financial matters, and they resolved over 90,000 consumer complaints from servicemembers, veterans, and their families. As Treasurer, Rich put forward a constitutional amendment for a special bonus and recognition for those who came home to Ohio after serving in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The people overwhelmingly approved the amendment at the ballot, and many thousands of veterans who got the bonus were encouraged to bring their talents and leadership home to Ohio. Betty served on the Armed Services Committee and fought for veterans and servicemembers. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave her an A+ in 2008 for her support of veterans and the Ohio American Veterans Association named her Legislator of the Year in 2010. She successfully led the effort to end the “back door draft” and increase stop-loss pay for soldiers when their service was extended. She also backed legislation increasing benefits and educational opportunities available to veterans. Ohio Commission on Women & Girls Women and girls in Ohio continue to face gender inequities that hold them back from reaching their full potential. In turn, our state fails to reach its full potential as well. Despite that over half of Ohio’s citizens are women, and that it’s been almost 100 years since women received the right to vote, significant disparities still exist in health, safety, education, economic opportunity, and the workplace. The Cordray/Sutton administration is committed to making Ohio a state that advances the representation, status, needs, and opportunities of women and girls. This dedication to uplifting women and girls goes beyond paying attention to “women’s issues,” it means implementing a concerted, focused plan to root out inequalities in every facet of daily life — including, but not limited to, education, health care, economic security, and representation. “Women’s issues” are economic issues. Womens’ suffering does not only impact women, it also impacts the children and families who rely on them. If women were paid equally to men for comparable work, poverty among Ohio women would be reduced by nearly half. According to the Institute of Women’s Policy Research, Ohio women who hold full-time year round jobs currently make 75 cents for every dollar paid to men for comparable work. For Ohio women of color, the pay gap is even larger – African American women earn 64.4 cents to the dollar and Latina women 60.8 cents. That is unconscionable. We must fundamentally change the status quo by expanding opportunities provided to women and changing workplace conditions so that women can work and advance in their careers. Protections for women in healthcare coverage is essential to maintaining strong and healthy families and communities. Prior to the passage of the Affordable Care Act, women in Ohio were charged up to 50% more than men for their health insurance. We cannot allow our state to go backward to a time when women were charged more for their insurance than men. We must look forward and make sure women and girls have access to preventative care and healthy outcomes when they need it. Violence against women adds to the challenges facing too many women, impacting survivors’ health and wellbeing. Women across the nation are estimated to lose 8 million days of paid work due to domestic or sexual violence. Ohio needs to do more to empower women to seek assistance and leave violent situations while maintaining employment and housing stability. All Ohio workers, including women, have a right to work in a safe workplace, free of sexual harassment and violence. Ohio must be a state committed to fighting sexual harassment and sexual assault by implementing policies that prevent quid pro quo harassment and hostile work environments. Ending the days of silencing victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault across our state will be a meaning step forward, and that is what our administration seeks to do. We also must fix the underrepresentation of women in government. While the majority of voters in Ohio are women, they represent only 22% of Ohio’s state and federal seats. Ensuring that women are developing the skills to pursue roles on community boards and commissions will strengthen and uplift our communities. With women represented with seats at every table, and taking on new leadership roles in our communities, our policies and our state will be stronger, and we will create a better, fairer Ohio. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do Create a Statewide Commission on Women & Girls – ​We will establish the Ohio Commission on Women & Girls, a permanent body responsible for advancing the representation of women and girls in state government and making Ohio a state where all women and girls are encouraged, empowered, and able to achieve their full potential. The Commission will be made up of women (age 20 and older) and girls (age 12–20) who represent the diversity of Ohio, across race, heritage, educational and economic obtainment, and sexual orientation. The Commission will be tasked with: Recognizing and advancing women’s rights, empowering women and girls to overcome barriers to equity, and expanding opportunities. Ensuring that women have seats at every table of state government at rates reflective of their percentage of the population. Ensuring Ohio’s state laws, practices, and working conditions take into consideration the rights of women and girls. Assessing gender equity within areas that particularly affect the lives of women and girls in health, safety, education, economic opportunity, media, and the workplace. Providing leadership and guidance in the areas of research and education, policy advocacy, and outreach. Consulting with and advising agencies, departments, boards, and commissions at all levels of government on matters pertaining to women and girls. The Cordray-Sutton Proven Record on Women & Gender Equity Rich has a long record of advocating for women and girls, including his work at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau where he fought against discriminatory lending practices that have often targeted women. He also enforced people’s rights under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. As a legislator, he worked to improve child care and strengthen child support enforcement. Throughout her public service, Betty has consistently stood up for the rights of women and girls. She fought for stronger laws against domestic violence, sexual harassment, and sexual assault; reproductive rights; and a fairer workplace and health care system. In Congress, she supported paid parental leave for federal employees, the Pay Fairness Act, and co-sponsored both the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Infrastructure Plan Whether we drink a glass of water with breakfast, drive or ride to work, or check our email, Ohioans depend on our state’s infrastructure every single day. It shapes the commute time to work and school, the cost of groceries at the store, and the size of our electricity and water bills. Our roads and bridges determine where companies locate and where jobs are created. But we have allowed our infrastructure to fall into disrepair, and the results are hurting Ohio’s ability to compete in an increasingly global marketplace. Those flat tires from potholes and dents from debris add up: driving on roads in need of repair costs Ohio $12 billion each year in direct costs, wasted time, and extra depreciation. Meanwhile, our aging airports struggle to compete with their global competitors while outdated public water systems threaten our children’s health. Our economy depends on safe roads, public transportation, broadband access, reliable energy, and clean water. But our roads and bridges, water and sewer lines, energy grid, and broadband network did not develop by accident, nor will they keep working without deliberate and thoughtful investment. Otherwise, conditions will only get worse and cost middle-class families more money while areas with poor infrastructure will see businesses and jobs relocate elsewhere. As Ohio continues to grow, each part of our infrastructure must keep pace for our state to remain competitive and its businesses to expand and serve their customers. What the Cordray-Sutton Administration Will Do: Introduce a major, forward-thinking bond package on the ballot for voters to approve. Past bond programs have ignored the needs of public transit and broadband. By increasing the dollars available for all our areas of need, we will move Ohio forward. Stretch each dollar available by partnering with local governments and private businesses. Whether it’s sharing lessons learned from Smart Columbus with other counties or working with all stakeholders to bring broadband down that “last mile” to a rural farmer, we will eliminate silos and bring us together. Beyond the two solutions above, there is more that can be done for each part of our infrastructure. We must make smart use of the funds and tools we have, which is why we propose the following: Repairing and Maintaining our Roads, Bridges, and Freight Facilities What's holding Ohio back In Ohio, approximately one-third of our major urban roads and highways are in “poor” or “mediocre” condition. We have some of the most structurally deficient bridges in the nation. Those conditions cost drivers $3.5 billion each year directly in extra vehicle operating costs. Bumpier roads mean that cars break down more easily, burn through more fuel, and wear through more tires. In our largest cities, these conditions lead to more traffic delays, costing each driver as much as $1,057 annually in lost time and wasted fuel.Businesses face the same challenges. Without a safe, dependable, and efficient transportation system that gets Ohioans and freight from point A to point B, our economy cannot grow. Our airports, water ports, and intermodal facilities connect Ohio businesses to the rest of the world, and they do not function as well as they should without the proper maintenance. What will move Ohio forward: Work with the White House and USDOT to advocate for a national infrastructure package. The current administration is leveraging its federal investment in infrastructure by increasing state and local government’s share for infrastructure projects. Ohio once had an office in Washington, D.C. that advocated for our interests. As Governor, I would reopen that office to place Ohio at the forefront as decisions about infrastructure are made at the federal level. Create a State Data Exchange dedicated to transportation and infrastructure. I would also create a State Data Exchange that houses public and voluntary private data to improve collaboration, innovation, safety initiatives, and overall quality of life. Cities would pool best practices that could translate into smart mobility efforts for smaller cities. The Data Exchange would also create an inventory of all state-owned property and determine which could be sold off or repurposed to support local infrastructure and economic development projects. Investing in Public Transportation What's holding Ohio back: Ohio spends less on public transit than 42 states. This year, the state allocated less than 1% of its multi-billion-dollar transportation budget to the public transit system. As a result, 27 counties in Ohio have no public transit, a gap that spans every corner of the state. We are stranding thousands of Ohioans with mobility issues – either because of age or a disability – without affordable options to work and engage in their communities.Because state funding for public transportation has not kept pace with demand for its services, too many Ohioans lack access to jobs, education, and health care. To land and keep a job, workers need dependable transportation from their home to their workplace. But many Ohioans cannot get to jobs and many employers cannot fill open positions. In the Cincinnati region, only 60% of all jobs are reachable by public transit. We need robust public transportation services in Ohio that enable workers to safely, reliably, and efficiently get to their jobs. Providing such a system would expand the talent pool for employers, enabling them to fill open positions and boost economic activity. As the next generation of workers demands access to public transportation, cities and towns that provide those services will attract more businesses to Ohio. The Cordray-Sutton administration will fight to secure the necessary funding, so that everyone can get where they need to go. What will move Ohio forward: Dedicate state funding to public transportation. Twenty-five states currently have a dedicated source of funding specifically set aside for public transportation. No funding source exists in Ohio. As Governor, I would consider establishing one focusing on supporting innovation, deriving funds from existing revenue sources to ensure that workers can connect to jobs and Ohio’s most vulnerable people have access to reliable transit options. Make our cities more accessible. Recent research says more walkable infrastructure is vital for cities to keep businesses and attract a talented workforce. Nearly a third of all car trips taken in this country are a mile or less in length – the equivalent of a 20-minute walk. Our older individuals and people with mobility issues need accessible paths that allow them easy transport. Moving short trips out of cars where possible and onto sidewalks or micro-transit options would provide benefits from an economic, public health, and environmental perspective. Investing in more walkable and accessible infrastructure is not a luxury but an essential component of making our communities more equitable and sustainable. Expanding Access to Broadband What's holding Ohio back Access to the internet is no longer a luxury: it is a necessity to compete in the modern economy. Broadband access in Ohio, however, remains poor. One-third of Ohio’s rural households lack access to modern digital tools because of where they live, compounding inequities in school funding and other public services. Lack of access impacts all of us: Researchers estimate that expanding broadband to all Ohio households would have an economic benefit of $728 million each year. Low-income residents in Ohio’s largest cities also face obstacles. Across the state, one million Ohioans have access to only one internet provider, leaving them at the mercy of broadband companies that can charge higher prices and provide unreliable service for too many people. As technology improves, Ohioans are paying more for internet speeds that remain quite slow by international standards. Businesses sometimes struggle to find service that meets their data and service needs, and farmers need reliable access while planting and testing their crops. What will move Ohio forward: Establish a state Office of Connectivity. Ohio does not have a single state office or agency that coordinates the state’s broadband policy, leaving broadband policy to be decided by a tangled web of various state agencies and departments. Coordinating these efforts will lower costs and accelerate efforts to expand affordable access throughout the state and provide training to use it. Give local governments more flexibility and support. The Cordray-Sutton administration will work with local governments to get them the flexibility and tools they need to bring broadband to every corner of the state and solve the issue of “last-mile” access. We encourage private providers to continue to participate in the Connect America Fund, and will help localities directly in their efforts to expand broadband access, offering targeted incentives to those towns and cities working to provide high-speed internet for their citizens. Leverage existing dollars to providing training opportunities. Access to broadband alone means nothing without the skills to use it. Since 2010, Connect Ohio has been awarded $7 million in federal grants for Ohio’s Broadband Initiative to providing training and assistance in accessing the internet. We will restore local government dollars, including those used to support workforce training and library training programs, to ensure everyone has the skills to take advantages of the 21st century economy. Investing in Underground Infrastructure What's holding Ohio back: Ohio is a water-rich state, and ensuring access to clean water and efficient sewer systems is essential to keeping Ohioans healthy. According to the Ohio Environmental Council, 90 percent of Ohioans get their drinking water from rivers and streams. Unfortunately, nearly half of Ohio’s waterways do not meet the standards required under federal and state law. We must better protect Ohio’s water resources from pollution and restore our older water and sewer systems. What will move Ohio forward: Establish a statewide funding plan for Ohio’s water quality needs. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Ohio will need to spend $13.4 billion over the next 20 years to fully fund the state’s drinking water projects. To make that goal a reality, we should consider making better use of the Ohio Water Development Authority. This department will take the lead on creating and implementing a new statewide plan for addressing Ohio’s water system needs, much like the Transportation Review Advisory Council has done for Ohio’s transportation needs. Protect Ohio's Lakes and Rivers Ohio is surrounded by lakes and rivers that are both important natural resources and economic drivers. Our interior lakes and rivers deserve the same level of attention. The Cordray-Sutton administration will participate in regional partnerships such as the Council of the Great Lakes.We will also create partnerships where none exist. We will create a Council of State Lakes to share best practices and spread new ideas that can help tackle old challenges. We will convene regional conferences of the local governments, businesses and stakeholders that sit along our rivers to discuss concerns and methods to improve water quality and encourage their recreational use. We pledge to work with Kentucky to ensure Ohio can take full advantage of the Ohio River and all the economic benefits available from such an important waterway.	”
—Cordray/Sutton Committee

Mike DeWine

DeWine's campaign website stated the following:

“	Jobs and Economy Ohio's Prosperity Plan Our state’s future depends on every Ohioan — whether living in a city, suburb or rural community — gaining the skills he or she needs to find high-wage jobs and a meaningful place in this fast-changing, world competitive economy. The DeWine-Husted administration will work with job creators to pursue bold policies and transform our state into a 21st century economy. Train More People With the Skills They Need JobsOhio has revolutionized the way we create and retain jobs in Ohio, but creating jobs isnot enough – we must prepare Ohioans to fill jobs that are in-demand and in growing industries. Establish regional job-training partnerships throughout Ohio with local businesses, education providers, and community leaders to give people the skills they need to compete and win in the 21stcentury. Currently, there are more than 75 job training programs across 12 state agencies. The DeWine-Husted administration will work to better coordinate these efforts so we can improve services and funding streams. Pressure the federal government to remove strings attached to federal job training dollars and block grant those funds to Ohio so the state can work with regional partners and make decisions that actually benefit communities. Job training efforts should be managed by local people who know better than Washington what jobs are available. Design a match-making application that actually connects people seeking work to businesses who are hiring. Instead of relying on job-board style website,the DeWine-Husted administration will partner with the technology community to develop an application supported by the data on OhioMeansJobs.com that is more consumer-friendly for the modern world. Fund the completion of at least 10,000 in-demand industry certificates in order to create and recruit top-notch tech talent, with the commitment they will stay in Ohio and work. There are many quick job training programs at a cheap cost with high job-demand in Ohio. For example, a basic coding degree and a business analytics degree each could take as little as three months to complete at a cost around $600.The DeWine-Husted administration will partner with companies, technical centers and community colleges to provide easy access to job seekers and help bring awareness to these in-demand job opportunities. Spearhead common-sense occupational licensing reform to remove bureaucratic barriers to employment that make it harder for qualified, skilled workers to find a job. We believe in encouraging people to work, not discouraging it. The DeWine-Husted administration will update Ohio standards to simplify the process for people and make it easier to reach reciprocal agreements with other states.Additionally, we will review and ask state occupational licensing agencies to issue temporary licenses to military members and spouses who are licensed in another state and have moved to Ohio for active duty. Ignite Innovation, Research and Investment From the days of Thomas Edison and the Wright Brothers, Ohio has been the heart of innovation and bold ideas. We have the opportunity to bring the best talent to Ohio by recognizing and rewarding new ideas. Establish Opportunity Zones for economically-distressed communities. Ohiohans the opportunity to bring billions of dollars in private investment to help revitalize communities that need it the most. By conforming Ohio tax law to include the Opportunity Zones established in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, we can provide a brighter future for thousands of Ohioans with better jobs. Change Ohio law so that research done at Ohio’s universities can remain the intellectual property of the researcher, and not the institution.This move will prove Ohio is serious about attracting the best and brightest minds and creating an environment where they can thrive. As a result, Ohio will become a magnet for the most innovative researchers in the world and make our state more attractive for private research investment and entrepreneurial ventures. Expand broadband infrastructure across Ohio to make Ohio a front runner in mobile edge technologies. Our state cannot be tech-friendly when some people and communities don’t have access to the digital highway that allows them to participate and grow. Understanding the cost involved, the DeWine-Husted administration will work closely with the private sector to expand our broadband infrastructure. Eliminate Burdensome Regulations & Allow Business to Flourish: Ohio has made great strides toward streamlining regulations, but we need to go a step further to make sure Ohio is the best state in the country for job creation and work. Suspend the implementation of any regulation that negatively impacts job creation, outside of those that are necessary for health and safety purposes. Encourage more robust input from Ohioans on regulations by expanding the Common Sense Initiative to allow citizens to help locate and halt regulations that negatively impact businesses and job growth. Bottom Line: Just eight years ago, nearly 400,000 Ohioans had lost their jobs and our state was facing an $8 billion hole with only 89 cents in our savings account. Ohio has come a long way under Republican leadership, but it will require bold ideas and strong partnerships with our state’s job creators, community colleges and job training centers to carry the momentum to a new level. This plan lays out a strong foundation to build upon our successes and accelerate Ohio’s economy into the future. Overcoming the Drug Problem Recovery Ohio Mike DeWine has been leading the fight against the drug epidemic since he first took office, using a multi-faceted approach of law enforcement, community outreach and education. Last year, he introduced a 12-point comprehensive action plan to help Ohio overcome the drug problem we are facing. Additionally, Attorney General Mike DeWine was one of the first Attorney Generals in the country to file a lawsuit against five drug manufacturers alleging that these companies systematically lied to the medical community about whether their products were addictive in order to make billions of dollars selling opioids to Ohioans. Point 1: Pass legislation to give the Governor the ability to declare a public health emergency statewide or in specific areas. The Governor should have more flexibility and tools to face this emergency, including the ability to do the following: Distribute money and other resources to local entities that are facing unexpected emergency conditions, like overdose spikes. Create an accelerated process for state licenses in critical professions such as the medical or social work fields as well as expedited licensing reciprocity with other states. Point 2: Create a 21st Century law enforcement data infrastructure. This will allow real- time, statewide data-sharing and brings state-of-the-art data analytics and crime prediction to every Ohio law enforcement agency. Point 3: Expand proven drug task force models. This will specifically target and disrupt the flow of money and drugs from Mexican drug cartels. Point 4: Create at least 60 more specialized drug courts. Drug courts are a proven way to hold those with substance use disorder accountable and ensure participation in effective drug treatment. There are more than 20 counties without a drug court and hundreds of municipalities without one. Point 5: Implement Proven K-12 grade drug prevention education in all Ohio schools. The single most effective tool Ohio has in this fight is prevention, and our best opportunity to provide it is to require that every student in Kindergarten through 12th grade receive age- and environmentally appropriate, evidence-based substance use prevention education. Point 6: Double substance use treatment capacity in Ohio. According to a new study by The Ohio State University, Ohio has treatment capacity for only 20 to 40 percent of Ohioans suffering from opioid addiction. The shortage is even worse in poor and rural areas of the state. Utilizing funding from the drug companies who made billions of dollars creating this problem, Ohio must develop, incentivize or repurpose treatment options to double our treatment capacity. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, including: Better utilizing Ohio hospitals’ existing capacity. We have existing capacity in Ohio at the hundreds of hospitals around the state. However, current funding mechanisms or rules don’t allow most of that capacity to be used for treatment. Driving more money to local addiction and mental health boards to pay for new treatment. By block-granting millions of additional dollars to local Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health boards, treatment and recovery providers can expand most where they’re needed and be more responsive to local needs. Point 7: Expand workforce of critical specialists. Ohio has a shortage of addiction specialists, social workers, and other professionals who are needed now and in the future to help those with substance use disorder. To incentivize these workers, Ohio should develop a student loan forgiveness program for those in drug treatment fields who complete their studies at Ohio universities and spend a specified time working in the addiction field in Ohio. Point 8: Empower employers to help employees with substance abuse disorder to seek treatment while remaining employed. Working through the Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) Safety Grants program, Ohio should create a pilot project aimed at existing employees who are willing to go to their employer and acknowledge that they have a substance use problem. To keep that person in the job, BWC’s program would work with the employer to pay for a portion of the healthcare costs associated with an appropriate treatment program that would allow that employee to return to work when they’re drug free. Point 9: Help business owners hire employees in recovery by offering employers incentives and reducing risks. The BWC should start a pilot project incentivizing employers to hire applicants who have completed appropriate treatment programing. The pilot program would reimburse the employer for a certain percent of the employee’s wages, provide necessary training to the employee, and indemnify the employer from any BWC rate increases should the employee relapse and cause a work-related accident. Point 10: Roll-out a statewide drug prevention media campaign. Point 11: Create a special position reporting directly to the Governor. This position will work every day with the single-minded focus of fighting the opioid epidemic. Point 12: Expand early intervention programs that target Ohio families and children in foster care. Ohio should expand and extend to all 88 counties quality programs that emphasize intervention with the whole family such as Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma). This is an 18-county pilot program that helps local governments offer concentrated, critical services to not only those who struggle with substance use disorder, but to their children who find themselves in foster care and are equally traumatized and damaged by opioids. Education Preparing Ohio's Future Every Ohioan deserves a shot at the American Dream, and that begins with a great education. The DeWine Husted administration will implement less testing and more learning, increase access to technology in all schools, ensure students are college ready or job ready, and make the cost of college more affordable. Ultimately, the goal of the DeWine-Husted administration is educational excellence in every school, for every student. These proposals, combined with our early childhood development plan and workforce plan, are a holistic approach to give our children better opportunities to succeed in life and strengthen the Buckeye State for decades to come. Less Testing and More Learning Reduce standardized testing. Standardized tests are limiting educator’s creativity and forcing them to a teach to a test. This interferes with a child’s ability to think creatively and problem solve. The DeWine-Husted Administration will reduce the number of tests that students are required to take, and will provide parents and teachers with more meaningful and timely results. Under Mike DeWine’s leadership, Ohio will put more emphasis on teaching and learning, and develop a school report card that parents can understand. Create a more equitable funding system. School funding has been and always will be a foundational element of our education system. With 608 school districts throughout Ohio, it is a challenge to design a funding system that serves the unique needs of a diverse state. However, funding is not about systems, it’s about students, and making sure these children have access to quality educational opportunities. The DeWine-Husted administration will create a more equitable funding system that directs state resources toward supportive services for children most in need. Increase Access to Technology and a 21st Century Education Modernize technology in Ohio’s classrooms.Too many Ohio classrooms lack the technology that is commonplace in K-12 education today. The DeWine-Husted administration will establish a program to modernize technology in Ohio’s classrooms, freeing our teachers to spend their time and energy on individual student needs. This will ensure that all of Ohio’s kids have access to the best technology and give them a competitive edge for the future. Incentivize shared services. Some of Ohio’s school districts want to partner with other districts on projects to save money, such as bulk purchasing, insurance, and transportation. In order to give local school districts more flexibility and local control, a DeWine-Husted administration will offer grant funding for innovative and resourceful shared service projects. Bring career and technical education into the 21st century. Ohio’s career and technical schools often train on outdated technology, in buildings that are 50 or more years old. A DeWine-Husted Administration will cut the red tape that limits the use of Ohio Facilities Construction Commission funding for career and technical schools so that Ohio can prioritize skilled learning. Additionally, the DeWine-Husted Administration will help facilitate better relationships with employers and job creators to fill in-demand jobs by leveraging the expertise and knowledge of JobsOhio. Make Ohio a leader in computer science and coding. Some Ohio schools lack qualified teachers to teach computer science and coding classes – which are important courses to prepare our kids for the future and expose them to different job opportunities. The DeWine- Husted administration will partner with Ohio’s colleges and universities to develop training and subsidize teachers to become certified computer science educators. Educators who take advantage of the training must commit to teaching at least one remote computer science course to schools who lack a computer science teacher. Add accountability for electronic schools. We are moving into a digital age where technology is rapidly improving and extending access to learning opportunities for students, especially those with unique needs and abilities. However, the ECOT abuses demonstrate the need to make digital learning services more accountable. The DeWine-Husted administration will establish a pay-for-performance model that requires course completion testing and competency before the electronic school is reimbursed. The school does not get paid unless the student receives the education the state is funding. Implement age-appropriate drug prevention education in K-12. Mike DeWine has introduced a comprehensive 12-point action plan to combat the drug epidemic, and several pieces of his plan include prevention. The DeWine-Husted administration will work with the State School Board to implement evidence- based prevention education from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. By teaching kids age-appropriate lessons that are proven to work, we can change the culture and get ahead of the next wave of drug abuse problems. Ensure every Ohio school has access to a mental health professional. Suicide has become an epidemic in our country, and some children are experiencing trauma in their home lives making school their most safe haven. The DeWine-Husted administration will ensure every Ohio school has access to a mental health professional. Now, more than ever, we need to find ways to talk to our children and get them the help they need. More Vocational Education Opportunities Encourage businesses to expose students to work opportunities. Ohio is facing a workforce shortage, so we need to ensure we are training kids to be college ready, or equipping them with the skills to be job ready. That’s why the DeWine-Husted administration will create a Student Work Experience Tax Incentive for businesses that provide students with work opportunities. This will encourage businesses – both large and small – to invest in the next generation of workers by providing them with valuable career exposure and work experience. Encourage coursework for skilled careers. The Ohio Department of Education arbitrarily limits which career and technical courses a student can count toward a high school diploma. This prohibits students from learning skills that prepare them for a 21st century career. A DeWine-Husted Administration will remove these barriers and allow students the flexibility to choose career and technical courses that meet their future goals. Extend career exposure and training opportunities to Ohio K-12 students. Too many children are faced with an opportunity gap, meaning they lack exposure to the many professions and career pathways that exist. The DeWine-Husted Administration will extend the work of the Ohio Department of Education and the Office of Workforce Transformation to educate kids about different careers so that every student understands the choices they have in life. Invest in teachers and principals. Ohio’s educators have challenging jobs. The DeWine- Husted administration recognizes these often unsung heroes and will call for a new level of respect for Ohio’s educators and school leaders. They will implement policy reforms that reflect this attitude, beginning with modernized teacher evaluation and professional development systems. The DeWine-Husted Administration will also encourage proven and diverse leaders — like second career professionals and veterans — to become involved in classrooms as teachers, mentors, and school leaders. Make College More Affordable Grant predictability and guarantee tuition rates for each class. Students at many Ohio institutions see their tuition and fees increase year after year, when they believed they had signed up for a specific price tag their freshman year. These price hikes and hidden fees aren’t fair or predictable to consumers. A DeWine-Husted Administration create tuition guarantees for each entering class at Ohio public universities and colleges, meaning a student will never pay more than they did their freshman year. This will save families money and reduce student loan burdens for students. Support lower-income Ohioans obtaining a degree. In 2005, Ohio switched from the Ohio Instructional Grant to the Ohio College Opportunity Grant for need-based aid for lower-income Ohioans. Over the years, state funding has decreased to help lower-income Ohioans pay for higher educational opportunities in our state. The DeWine-Husted Administration will increase state funding for lower-income Ohioans to attend to higher education. Tie Ohio’s higher education funding system to job attainment. While graduation is the benchmark many students and parents set as a measure of success, it’s really a good-paying career that is the ultimate goal. Ohio has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, but underemployment is estimated to be twice as much. Ohio’s colleges and universities have strong connections to local, state, and national employers and should cultivate those relationships further to ensure that students are employed when they graduate. The DeWine-Husted Administration will work with Ohio public universities to phase post-graduate job attainment into the State Share of Instruction formula to incentivize schools to connect students to jobs. Improve Ohio’s education attainment. The DeWine-Husted administration will increase access to post-secondary education through college credit plus and by working with Ohio’s public colleges and universities to embed industry recognized credentials into all eligible 2- and 4-year degree pathways BOTTOM LINE: A good education is one of the first tools we can provide to positively impact children and build a stronger future for our state. The Preparing Ohio’s Future Plan will ensure our children are spending more time learning, that they have better access to technology and vocational education opportunities, and are prepared for the in-demand jobs of the future. Additionally, the DeWine-Husted administration will make college more accessible and more affordable by guaranteeing tuition rates. These are all attainable actions that will modernize our schools and institutions and give Ohioans the competitive edge in a fast-changing world. Healthcare Guaranteeing Coverage and Reducing Costs in Healthcare Mike DeWine has been clear — he supports protecting coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. He especially understands that health insurance needs to be there when people need it the most. That includes the traditional Medicaid program, which is designed to take care of the elderly, people with those disabilities, and children primarily. People can count on this safety-net program to be there for them. When he assumed office in 2011, Attorney General Mike DeWine joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare. In taking the action, DeWine cited that Obamacare was a federal overreach because it forced individuals to buy coverage or face financial penalties when filing their taxes. In 2018, Democratic Attorney Generals banded together to politicize the healthcare debate with legal filings which they say is to uphold coverage, but is actually disguised with restoring the individual mandate and the hefty tax penalty that comes with it. That is why many Attorney Generals across the country, including Attorney General Mike DeWine, have not joined these filings that would force people to buy coverage again or face penalties. In addition to supporting coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, the DeWine- Husted administration will keep extended Medicaid coverage for adults and continue to reform the program, find ways to improve it for the people it serves, and make the pro- gram stronger for the future. Support a reasonable work requirement for individuals on Medicaid Expansion who are healthy and able to work. The DeWine Husted administration support a reasonable work requirement for the adults on the program who are healthy and able to work. It is important to remember that the people covered by Medicaid expansion are adults who earn up to 138% of poverty. The goal of the DeWine-Husted administration is to get these adults work-ready, if they are healthy and able to work, so that they can get into the workplace and into a better way of life. Today, there are 147,000 jobs available on OhioMeansJobs waiting to be filled. The DeWine-Husted administration will focus on connecting people who are part of the expansion population with job training programs and job opportunities that are available. Implement a Wellness Program to Improve Health Outcomes. In addition to moving people into a better life, we want to move them to a healthier life. Mike DeWine and Jon Husted will focus on the wellness of people they can effect (state government employees and adults on the Medicaid expansion population) by implementing a wellness program that delivers better results for people. They will require the Medicaid managed care plans to provide education that helps prevent health problems in the first place and improve the well-being of people in the program. The more that can be done to prevent chronic conditions, the more emergency department usage will decrease because people will get the appropriate care, and we can better control health care spending in the long-run. In August, Mike DeWine and Jon Husted announced plans to improve health outcomes and reduce the costs of health care by implementing a similar, proven program that exists at the largest healthcare system in Ohio. The program encourages participants to meet healthy benchmarks by promoting smoking cessation, health stress management and obtaining a primary care physician. Create greater transparency and drive down pharmacy costs. Currently, the state contracts with pharmacy middle-men to get us the best deal on prescription drugs, but due to the secrecy around the process, it is very difficult to know if that is actually happening. As Governor, Mike DeWine will strive to get a better deal for taxpayers by creating a more transparent process so that the public knows what these drugs really cost, are getting a fair deal, and not getting ripped off. Making our state a leader in technology Innovate Ohio Technology is changing the way we live and the economy we live in. The people and states that successfully adapt to that change will be the ones that prosper, the states and people who don’t will fall behind. The DeWine-Husted administration is committed to leading an aggressive, innovate path to build a better Ohio. INNOVATION + INVESTMENT + TALENT x ENTREPRENEURISM = PROSPERITY Innovate Ohio is about how we make state government a more effective and efficient leader in using technology to improve customer service and save tax dollars. In doing so, we make Ohio a state that attracts talent, business, and new investment. Ohio’s best tech companies and creative entrepreneurs will help modernize state and local government, improve customer service and save tax dollars – which will benefit every Ohioan. The DeWine-Husted Administration will: Create the SmartOhio Operating System and require state departments to engage in data sharing to improve the efficiency of services across state government and give the capacity to provide for predictive analytics to solve problems before they occur. Improve procurement by opening up the bidding process to encourage more participation, cheaper costs, more public accountability and integrity, better customer service and also allow local governments to benefit from state pricing. Modernize paper-to-digital records by using blockchain technology to create secure digital records and improve convenience. Things such as car titles, proof of insurance, vehicle recall notices, and license plates can all be made available as digital records to save taxpayers time, and improve our quality of life. The potential for digital records is even greater in healthcare, where government spends the most money. Government can use predictive analytics of Medicaid data as a way to improve health and wellness and allowing customers to compare prescription drug prices so they can get the best deal. Create an advisory council of Ohio business and technology leaders to advise the administration on how the state can improve customer service. This will improve the efficiency and quality of public services, saving both time and money. In addition to the suggestions from entrepreneurs, the public is encouraged to submit ideas on how the state can improve the way it delivers services at www.MikeDeWine.com/InnovateOhio. Build a first of its kind public/private partnership where the private sector can bring data sharing solutions they create into government to improve the way public services are delivered. This public/private partnership will attract innovative ideas, new investment, create jobs, and support the Ohio businesses of the future. Create a competition of ideas to support innovative research in healthcare, education, social services, criminal justice, and basic government services like licensing, permits, registrations, record-keeping and procurement. Additionally, other proposals previously been announced by the DeWine-Husted Campaign that will involve InnovateOhio include: Technology: Modernize technology in Ohio’s classrooms: Too many Ohio classrooms lack the technology that is commonplace in K-12 education today. The DeWine-Husted Administration will establish a program to modernize technology in Ohio’s classrooms, freeing our teachers to spend their time and energy on individual student needs. This will ensure that all of Ohio’s kids have access to the best technology and give them a competitive edge for the future (also see www.MikeDeWine.com/Education) Make Ohio a leader in computer science and coding: Some Ohio schools lack qualified teachers to teach computer science and coding classes – which are important courses to prepare our kids for the future and expose them to different job opportunities. The DeWine- Husted administration will partner with Ohio’s colleges and universities to develop training and subsidize teachers to become certified computer science educators. Educators who take advantage of the training must commit to teaching at least one remote computer science course to schools who lack a computer science teacher (also see www.MikeDeWine.com/Education). Design a match-making application that actually connects people seeking work to businesses who are hiring: Instead of relying on job-board style website, the DeWine- Husted administration will partner with the technology community to develop an application supported by the data on OhioMeansJobs.com that is more consumer- friendly for the modern world (also see www.MikeDeWine.com/Jobs). Expand broadband infrastructure across Ohio to make Ohio a frontrunner in mobile edge technologies: Our state cannot be tech-friendly when some people and communities don’t have access to the digital highway that allows them to participate and grow. Understanding the cost involved, the DeWine-Husted administration will work closely with the private sector to expand our broadband infrastructure (also see www.MikeDeWine.com/Jobs). Talent: Fund the completion of at least 10,000 in-demand industry certificates in order to create and recruit top-notch tech talent, with the commitment they will stay in Ohio and work. There are many quick job training programs at a cheap cost with high job- demand in Ohio. For example, a basic coding degree and a business analytics degree each could take as little as three months to complete at a cost around $600. The DeWine-Husted administration will partner with companies, technical centers and community colleges to provide easy access to job seekers and help bring awareness to these in-demand job opportunities (also see www.MikeDeWine.com/Jobs) Change Ohio law so that research done at Ohio’s universities can remain the intellectual property of the researcher, and not the institution. This move will prove Ohio is serious about attracting the best and brightest minds and creating an environment where they can thrive. As a result, Ohio will become a magnet for the most innovative researchers in the world and make our state more attractive for private research investment and entrepreneurial ventures (also see www.MikeDeWine.com/ Jobs). Investment: Establish Opportunity Zones for economically-distressed communities: Ohio has the opportunity to bring billions of dollars in private investment to help revitalize communities that need it the most. By conforming Ohio tax law to include the Opportunity Zones established in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, we can provide a brighter future for thousands of Ohioans with better jobs (also, see www.MikeDeWine.com/Jobs). Early Childhood Development Opportunity for Every Ohio Kid Mike DeWine cares deeply about families. He knows that there are kids growing up in Ohio who – because of no fault of their own – simply do not have the same chances for success in life. Today, too many young people are reaching adulthood without the tools to be self- sufficient, and some kids don’t have the skills to hold jobs or the opportunity to seek better education. Mike DeWine and Jon Husted are ready to fight for an Ohio that works for all of our families. That’s why they’ve introduced a bold plan to give kids the skills they need early in life to succeed. This is Mike DeWine and Jon Husted’s vision for Ohio’s future — to give opportunity to every kid in Ohio. Improve access and increase the quality of early childhood education services High-quality early childhood education is proven to improve long-term outcomes for children. Yet, only 20% of centers are high-quality rated. The DeWine-Husted administration will raise the eligibility level for publicly funded early childhood programs for working families from 130% of the federal poverty level to 150% of the federal poverty level, which will expand access to at least 20,000 more children. Additionally, Mike DeWine will ensure all early childhood education centers are high quality. In addition to helping children, this will encourage more parental participation in the workforce. Increase home visiting services for at-risk, first time mothers to give them the tools they need to promote child development and school readiness Evidence-based home visiting services are voluntary programs that serve at-risk, first-time mothers and children up to age three in their own homes. Ohio’s programs are grossly underfunded, reaching less than 4 percent of eligible families. The DeWine-Husted administration will make state investments to triple the number of families served through home-visiting programs. These programs can help reduce infant mortality and improve school-readiness so that parents have the skills they need to help their children be healthy, happy and ready for kindergarten. Provide a mental health professional in every Ohio school Suicide has become an epidemic in our country, and some children are experiencing trauma in their home lives making school their most safe haven. The DeWine-Husted administration will ensure every Ohio school has access to a mental health professional. Now, more than ever, we need to find ways to talk to our children and get them the help they need. Reform the foster care system in Ohio Ohio already provides the lowest state-share for foster care in the nation, and the opioid epidemic has forced many more children into Ohio’s foster care system. The DeWine-Husted administration will make reforming the child welfare system a top priority by initiating a top-down review of the system in Ohio, increasing the state’s investment to create a minimum standard for care and by establishing an independent ombudsmen with the authority to investigate and publish findings on complaints by foster caregivers, foster children and kin. Implement age-appropriate drug prevention education in K-12 Mike DeWine has introduced a comprehensive 12-point action plant to combat the drug epidemic, and several pieces of his plan include prevention. The DeWine-Husted administration will work with the State School Board to implement evidence-based prevention education from Kindergarten through 12th Grade. By teaching kids age-appropriate lessons that are proven to work, we can change the culture and get ahead of the next wave of drug abuse problems. Create a Director of Children’s Initiatives that will report to the Governor and coordinate children’s programs across all state agencies Currently, children’s programs are scattered among many different state agencies. As the next Governor, Mike DeWine will have in a place a Director of Children’s Initiatives, someone who will report directly to him whose sole focus will be to coordinate children’s programs across all state agencies so that they work better for the people they serve. This dedicated staff person in the Governor’s office will take on major priorities such as lead poisoning, hunger and child obesity — all while identifying ways that programs can work more efficiently for Ohio’s children. BOTTOM LINE: The failure of Ohio’s children is a tragedy for them that affects all of us. Giving our children the proper development and skills to be successful when they are young so that they don’t end up unemployed, involved in crime, using drugs, or even incarcerated, improves the quality of life for all Ohioans. With these investments and improvements, we can start to solve this problem for the sake of our entire state and its future. School Safety Keeping Ohio's Children and Teachers Safe Every Ohioan deserves a shot at the American Dream, and that begins with a great education. Too many Ohio students cannot focus on their education because they feel unsafe in their schools or communities, struggle with mental illness, or experience trauma in their home lives. As educators and school leaders take on more and more responsibility, the state must step up and provide schools with the resources they need to properly protect their students so they can focus on their primary job – educating Ohio’s kids. In an effort to keep our children and teachers safe, the DeWine-Husted administration will take a three-pronged approach to school safety. Ensure every Ohio school has access to a mental health professional. Suicide has become an epidemic in our country, and some children are experiencing trauma in their home lives making school their most safe haven. The DeWine-Husted administration will ensure every Ohio school has access to a mental health professional. Now, more than ever, we need to find ways to talk to our children and get them the help they need. Leverage law enforcement data analytics to better intercept threats and prevent tragedies. Ohio has a Strategic Analysis and Information Center (known as the “Fusion Center”) that provides intelligence and threat assessments to Ohio law enforcement. The DeWine-Husted administration will equip the fusion center with current and emerging technology to analyze, investigate, and intercept any threats to Ohio’s children and schools. Augment Ohio’s background check system and robustly enforce reporting laws. More than 1,300 law enforcement agencies and courts are required to submit information into Ohio’s background check system. The DeWine-Husted administration will advance the work Mike DeWine has done as Attorney General to build a 21st century, statewide data infrastructure that will ensure we keep guns out of the hands of criminals and others who are prohibited from owning firearms. BOTTOM LINE: The goal of the DeWine-Husted administration is education excellence in every school, for every student, but this is impossible if our children and teachers are not safe. These proposals, combined with our Preparing Ohio’s Future Plan, are attainable actions for our state that will ensure our teachers and students are safe. Law Enforcement Supporting Enforcement Law Mike DeWine has dedicated his career in public service to fighting crime and protecting our children and families. He has passed numerous laws and spearheaded innovative initiatives that protect victims of crime and has fought tirelessly to get local police and sheriffs the tools they need to do their jobs. Mike DeWine’s roots are in local government, and he understands the unique needs of the men and women who put their lives on the line each day to keep our families safe. Starting as an Assistant Greene County Prosecuting Attorney, Mike DeWine first truly understood the pain and anguish of crime victims. While County Prosecutor, he slashed plea bargaining, successfully prosecuted rapists, and established a welfare fraud unit. In the U.S. Senate, Mike DeWine promoted the then-emerging DNA technology, helping to expand the national database for DNA, fingerprint, and ballistics information, so that violent offenders — no matter where they traveled — could be caught and prosecuted. As our Ohio Attorney General, Mike DeWine has brought much-needed leadership to the Attorney General’s Office, where he runs the state crime lab (BCI), the Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA), and the Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OCIC). As Ohio’s next Governor, Mike DeWine has announced that he will ask the Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) to purchase safety vests for every Ohio peace officer subject to shooting risk. The program would be similar to one already in effect at BWC in which fire departments can seek grant to purchase protective clothing for firefighters that insulates them against cancer risks from chemical at fire scenes. DeWine first became aware of this at the Bureau of Criminal Investigation when some of the vests that agents wore has been in service longer than the manufacturers recommended replacement cycle. As soon as he came aware of the problem, the Bureau immediately ordered new vests and began discussing the issue with BWC to determine if there was a way to implement a statewide program to ensure officers all over the state had access to funding to buy vests. As Attorney General, Mike DeWine has launched a number of law enforcement initiatives to focus more resources and attention to make our communities safer. State-Of-The-Art Crime Lab Since becoming Attorney General, Mike DeWine has turned the state crime lab, BCI, into a state-of-the art facility, through stream-lined processes and much-needed resources. He has added 26 new BCI agents, 26 new Medicaid Fraud agents, 20 new law enforcement training officers, 45 new forensic scientists, and 6 new members of his criminal intelligence unit. Supporting Law Enforcement Additionally, since Mike DeWine took office in 2011, turnaround times for the analysis of DNA evidence at BCI have dropped dramatically. In December 2010, the average turnaround time for testing a piece of evidence at BCI was 125 days. Today, despite a dramatic increase in the amount of evidence tested, analysts process DNA evidence in an average of 23 days. Rape Kit Testing Initiative After taking office, Attorney General DeWine learned that thousands of sexual assault kits that had never been submitted for DNA testing were still on the evidence shelves of law enforcement agencies throughout the state. In 2011, he formed a task force that came up with recommendations to solve the problem resulting in his call for law enforcement agencies to send their previously untested kits to BCI for lab analysis at no cost to the local agencies. Law enforcement agencies submitted 13,931 cases to the Attorney General’s Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) Testing Initiative. Of those, they have received DNA matches in 36 percent of the cases, resulting in charges being filed against hundreds of attackers. Additionally, DNA testing has linked 300 serial offenders to 1,127 crimes. Fighting Illegal Drugs From the beginning of his administration, Mike DeWine started fighting against the prescription pill problem, taking away the licenses of over 100 so-called doctors and shutting down pill mills across the state. He created a Heroin Unit to pursue drug traffickers and investigate opioid- related cases and to work with communities devastated by the opioid crisis. The unit assists local law enforcement through BCI investigative and laboratory services, OCIC task forces, prosecution support, and outreach and education services. Crimes Against Children Unit Mike DeWine created a Crimes Against Children Unit in his office to focus on identifying, arresting, and convicting people who prey on kids through sexual and other forms of abuse, child pornography, solicitation of minors, and similar crimes. BCI special agents investigate crimes involving child victims, prosecutors with the Special Prosecutions Section prosecute child predators, and the Crime Victim Services Section assists young victims with needed services. Though this initiative, his office created a rapid response team to immediately respond when help is needed with cases involving child victims anywhere in Ohio. Enhanced Law Enforcement Training Opportunities As Attorney General, Mike DeWine has provided cutting-edge training for law enforcement through his Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy by increasing the number of on-line courses, putting a greater focus on scenario-based training, and taking training directly to officers through regional programming. OPOTA instructors have taught 5,310 courses in campuses in Richfield and London since Attorney General DeWine has been in office. In addition, OPOTA instructors have taught more than 1,340 courses to 306,000 law enforcement officers at their regional training locations since 2011. In 2016, the Attorney General’s Office added a new learning platform for OPOTA courses in the form of live-streaming webcasts. With its user-friendly, interactive platform, the webcast enables OPOTA to present courses to up to 3,000 students at a time. Also, OPOTA’s Mobile Academy, which Mike DeWine created, provides free training at an agency’s doorstep. The firearms and driving courses use state-of-the-art simulators. In 2017, Attorney General DeWine unveiled OPOTA’s newest law enforcement training program — Scenario Training Equipment Program (STEP), which is a cost-effective method of bringing scenario-based training — which replicates real-world, high-stress situations — to Ohio law enforcement agencies across the state. STEP provides an inventory of training equipment that OPOTA manages like a library. To take advantage of STEP, agencies must send at least one instructor to OPOTA’s Scenario Based Training Instructor course and submit safety and lesson plans to borrow STEP equipment. STEP allows individual agencies to tailor the program to fit their individual needs. As Governor, Mike DeWine has committed to providing full funding in his budget for 40 hours of Continuing Professional Training for every law enforcement officer in Ohio.	”
—DeWine Husted for Ohio

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Other 2018 statewide elections

See also: States with both gubernatorial and U.S. Senate elections in 2018

This race took place in one of twenty-two states that held elections for both governor and U.S. Senate in 2018.

A table of where these elections occurred, the names of incumbents prior to the 2018 elections, and links to our coverage of these races can be viewed by clicking "[show]" on the banner below:

States holding both Gubernatorial and Senate elections in 2018
State	Incumbent Governor	Open Seat?	Incumbent Senator	Open Seat?
Arizona	Doug Ducey	No	Jeff Flake	Yes
California	Jerry Brown	Yes	Dianne Feinstein	No
Connecticut	Dan Malloy	Yes	Chris Murphy	No
Florida	Rick Scott	Yes	Bill Nelson	No
Hawaii	David Ige	No	Mazie Hirono	No
Maine	Paul LePage	Yes	Angus King	No
Maryland	Larry Hogan	No	Ben Cardin	No
Massachusetts	Charlie Baker	No	Elizabeth Warren	No
Michigan	Rick Snyder	Yes	Debbie Stabenow	No
Minnesota	Mark Dayton	Yes	Amy Klobuchar	No
Nebraska	Pete Ricketts	No	Deb Fischer	No
Nevada	Brian Sandoval	Yes	Dean Heller	No
New Mexico	Susana Martinez	Yes	Martin Heinrich	No
New York	Andrew Cuomo	No	Kirsten Gillibrand	No
Ohio	John Kasich	Yes	Sherrod Brown	No
Pennsylvania	Tom Wolf	No	Bob Casey, Jr.	No
Rhode Island	Gina Raimondo	No	Sheldon Whitehouse	No
Tennessee	Bill Haslam	Yes	Bob Corker	Yes
Texas	Greg Abbott	No	Ted Cruz	No
Vermont	Phil Scott	No	Bernie Sanders	No
Wisconsin	Scott Walker	No	Tammy Baldwin	No
Wyoming	Matt Mead	Yes	John Barrasso	No

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Nine of 88 Ohio counties—10.2 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County	Trump margin of victory in 2016	Obama margin of victory in 2012	Obama margin of victory in 2008
Ashtabula County, Ohio	18.80%	12.78%	13.54%
Erie County, Ohio	9.48%	12.29%	13.86%
Montgomery County, Ohio	0.73%	4.62%	6.22%
Ottawa County, Ohio	19.51%	4.30%	6.24%
Portage County, Ohio	9.87%	5.52%	8.99%
Sandusky County, Ohio	22.58%	2.71%	4.64%
Stark County, Ohio	17.17%	0.47%	5.46%
Trumbull County, Ohio	6.22%	23.00%	22.43%
Wood County, Ohio	7.99%	4.84%	7.13%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Ohio with 51.7 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 43.6 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Ohio cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 93.3 percent of the time (28 out of 30 elections), more than any other state in the country. In that same time frame, Ohio supported Republican candidates for president more often than Democratic candidates, 60 to 40 percent. Between 2000 and 2016, Ohio voted for the winning presidential candidate in every election.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Ohio. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 39 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 35.7 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 33 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 34 points. Clinton won seven districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.

In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 60 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 17.4 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 66 out of 99 state House districts in Ohio with an average margin of victory of 28.3 points. Trump won seven districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

2016 presidential results by state House district
District	Obama	Romney	2012 Margin	Clinton	Trump	2016 Margin	Party Control
1	38.79%	59.24%	R+20.5	30.29%	65.04%	R+34.7	R
2	39.31%	58.68%	R+19.4	29.22%	66.46%	R+37.2	R
3	51.29%	46.45%	D+4.8	42.61%	50.69%	R+8.1	R
4	37.14%	61.16%	R+24	29.02%	66.54%	R+37.5	R
5	43.04%	54.83%	R+11.8	26.99%	68.78%	R+41.8	R
6	47.63%	51.35%	R+3.7	49.34%	47.10%	D+2.2	R
7	47.89%	50.80%	R+2.9	43.80%	52.04%	R+8.2	R
8	81.58%	17.75%	D+63.8	81.13%	16.64%	D+64.5	D
9	85.23%	14.11%	D+71.1	86.73%	10.91%	D+75.8	D
10	89.62%	9.61%	D+80	85.79%	11.52%	D+74.3	D
11	88.72%	10.64%	D+78.1	83.99%	13.93%	D+70.1	D
12	84.03%	15.46%	D+68.6	82.01%	15.91%	D+66.1	D
13	76.21%	22.24%	D+54	72.94%	22.56%	D+50.4	D
14	63.03%	35.54%	D+27.5	53.61%	42.03%	D+11.6	D
15	59.18%	39.28%	D+19.9	48.53%	46.89%	D+1.6	D
16	49.37%	49.54%	R+0.2	50.78%	45.09%	D+5.7	R
17	61.41%	36.78%	D+24.6	53.34%	41.75%	D+11.6	D
18	70.04%	27.78%	D+42.3	73.61%	20.76%	D+52.8	D
19	47.99%	50.56%	R+2.6	51.84%	42.94%	D+8.9	R
20	57.45%	41.22%	D+16.2	54.13%	41.35%	D+12.8	D
21	48.03%	50.52%	R+2.5	54.17%	40.64%	D+13.5	R
22	65.70%	32.50%	D+33.2	67.15%	27.74%	D+39.4	D
23	48.63%	49.65%	R+1	44.07%	50.55%	R+6.5	R
24	48.32%	50.18%	R+1.9	52.82%	42.02%	D+10.8	R
25	84.94%	13.90%	D+71	82.21%	14.45%	D+67.8	D
26	82.21%	16.89%	D+65.3	78.59%	18.45%	D+60.1	D
27	37.72%	60.95%	R+23.2	44.19%	50.48%	R+6.3	R
28	47.68%	51.09%	R+3.4	49.74%	45.54%	D+4.2	R
29	36.38%	61.99%	R+25.6	32.63%	63.29%	R+30.7	R
30	29.86%	68.57%	R+38.7	29.47%	65.80%	R+36.3	R
31	68.65%	29.81%	D+38.8	69.01%	26.01%	D+43	D
32	77.38%	21.44%	D+55.9	76.98%	19.40%	D+57.6	D
33	74.59%	24.41%	D+50.2	74.33%	22.24%	D+52.1	D
34	77.67%	21.29%	D+56.4	74.56%	22.10%	D+52.5	D
35	65.71%	32.53%	D+33.2	54.68%	40.82%	D+13.9	D
36	51.22%	47.16%	D+4.1	43.84%	51.40%	R+7.6	R
37	48.21%	50.59%	R+2.4	48.22%	47.58%	D+0.6	R
38	45.12%	53.31%	R+8.2	39.47%	56.20%	R+16.7	R
39	83.01%	15.69%	D+67.3	77.40%	18.70%	D+58.7	D
40	42.26%	56.01%	R+13.7	37.44%	58.22%	R+20.8	R
41	41.76%	56.43%	R+14.7	41.26%	53.19%	R+11.9	R
42	37.30%	61.04%	R+23.7	34.78%	60.50%	R+25.7	R
43	52.03%	46.30%	D+5.7	44.83%	51.71%	R+6.9	R
44	85.18%	13.57%	D+71.6	78.27%	17.63%	D+60.6	D
45	67.48%	30.35%	D+37.1	54.70%	38.87%	D+15.8	D
46	61.17%	36.89%	D+24.3	51.98%	42.46%	D+9.5	D
47	44.22%	54.03%	R+9.8	39.17%	55.41%	R+16.2	R
48	45.37%	52.95%	R+7.6	38.85%	56.51%	R+17.7	R
49	63.88%	33.96%	D+29.9	50.58%	44.46%	D+6.1	D
50	42.15%	56.06%	R+13.9	32.22%	63.32%	R+31.1	R
51	39.52%	58.86%	R+19.3	34.67%	60.85%	R+26.2	R
52	32.15%	66.62%	R+34.5	34.41%	61.10%	R+26.7	R
53	37.68%	60.48%	R+22.8	31.90%	64.04%	R+32.1	R
54	33.88%	64.77%	R+30.9	35.15%	59.94%	R+24.8	R
55	54.00%	44.36%	D+9.6	46.06%	49.11%	R+3	R
56	66.42%	31.87%	D+34.5	56.04%	39.48%	D+16.6	D
57	45.16%	52.88%	R+7.7	33.67%	61.31%	R+27.6	R
58	77.98%	20.84%	D+57.1	63.99%	32.77%	D+31.2	D
59	51.32%	47.23%	D+4.1	39.03%	57.44%	R+18.4	D
60	53.77%	44.35%	D+9.4	43.53%	51.59%	R+8.1	D
61	44.47%	54.03%	R+9.6	37.08%	58.60%	R+21.5	R
62	27.91%	70.65%	R+42.7	24.13%	71.55%	R+47.4	R
63	60.72%	37.58%	D+23.1	44.17%	51.91%	R+7.7	D
64	59.27%	38.87%	D+20.4	44.19%	51.55%	R+7.4	D
65	31.46%	66.93%	R+35.5	28.92%	66.19%	R+37.3	R
66	33.65%	64.53%	R+30.9	23.17%	73.04%	R+49.9	R
67	38.37%	60.33%	R+22	39.82%	55.21%	R+15.4	R
68	36.74%	61.59%	R+24.9	34.19%	61.06%	R+26.9	R
69	41.18%	57.12%	R+15.9	35.30%	60.15%	R+24.9	R
70	39.57%	58.40%	R+18.8	28.98%	66.22%	R+37.2	R
71	44.17%	53.76%	R+9.6	36.24%	58.84%	R+22.6	R
72	41.74%	56.02%	R+14.3	26.53%	69.18%	R+42.6	R
73	38.72%	59.60%	R+20.9	37.58%	56.86%	R+19.3	R
74	39.24%	59.00%	R+19.8	29.26%	66.33%	R+37.1	R
75	55.14%	42.80%	D+12.3	45.12%	49.88%	R+4.8	D
76	40.16%	58.30%	R+18.1	36.58%	59.26%	R+22.7	R
77	42.94%	55.55%	R+12.6	36.83%	58.45%	R+21.6	R
78	43.27%	54.75%	R+11.5	27.72%	67.97%	R+40.3	R
79	50.25%	48.15%	D+2.1	39.71%	55.79%	R+16.1	R
80	30.58%	67.60%	R+37	23.49%	72.12%	R+48.6	R
81	36.13%	61.79%	R+25.7	23.47%	71.04%	R+47.6	R
82	35.40%	62.61%	R+27.2	23.64%	71.47%	R+47.8	R
83	35.44%	62.41%	R+27	25.53%	68.92%	R+43.4	R
84	22.84%	75.48%	R+52.6	15.84%	80.56%	R+64.7	R
85	34.91%	63.23%	R+28.3	23.23%	72.46%	R+49.2	R
86	40.44%	57.59%	R+17.2	29.69%	64.99%	R+35.3	R
87	37.79%	59.89%	R+22.1	23.50%	71.42%	R+47.9	R
88	48.08%	49.40%	R+1.3	33.72%	59.59%	R+25.9	R
89	53.82%	44.44%	D+9.4	40.79%	54.12%	R+13.3	R
90	45.61%	52.45%	R+6.8	28.10%	68.50%	R+40.4	R
91	37.47%	60.53%	R+23.1	23.48%	72.83%	R+49.3	R
92	44.40%	54.02%	R+9.6	30.49%	65.30%	R+34.8	R
93	38.50%	59.36%	R+20.9	22.81%	73.57%	R+50.8	R
94	52.86%	44.54%	D+8.3	41.52%	53.47%	R+12	R
95	39.50%	58.11%	R+18.6	24.30%	71.52%	R+47.2	R
96	47.46%	50.40%	R+2.9	29.81%	66.31%	R+36.5	D
97	45.24%	52.60%	R+7.4	29.04%	66.33%	R+37.3	R
98	40.54%	57.23%	R+16.7	27.38%	67.61%	R+40.2	R
99	52.60%	45.25%	D+7.4	37.09%	58.30%	R+21.2	D
Total	50.67%	47.69%	D+3	43.69%	51.84%	R+8.2	-
Source: Daily Kos

2014

See also: Ohio gubernatorial election, 2014

Republican incumbent John Kasich won re-election on November 4, 2014.

Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, 2014
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Kasich/Mary Taylor Incumbent	63.6%	1,944,848
	Democratic	Ed FitzGerald/Sharen Neuhardt	33%	1,009,359
	Green	Anita Rios/Bob Fitrakis	3.3%	101,706
Total Votes				3,055,913
Election results via Ohio Secretary of State

2010

See also: Ohio gubernatorial election, 2010

On November 2, 2010, John Kasich/Mary Taylor won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Ohio. He ran unopposed in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of Ohio, 2010
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	John Kasich/Mary Taylor	49%	1,889,186
	Democratic	Ted Strickland/Yvette McGee Brown Incumbent	47%	1,812,059
	Libertarian	Ken Matesz/Margaret Ann Leech	2.4%	92,116
	Green	Dennis Spisak/Anita Rios	1.5%	58,475
	Write-In	David Sargent	0%	633
Total Votes				3,852,469
Election results via Ohio Secretary of State.

2006

On November 7, 2006, Ted Strickland/Lee Fisher won election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Ohio. He defeated J. Kenneth Blackwell, Robert Fitrakis, William S. Peirce, Larry Bays and James Lundeen in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of Ohio, 2006
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Ted Strickland/Lee Fisher	60.5%	2,435,505
	Republican	J. Kenneth Blackwell/Tom Raga	36.6%	1,474,331
	Non-Partisan	William S. Peirce	1.8%	71,473
	Non-Partisan	Robert Fitrakis	1%	40,967
	Write-In	James Lundeen	0%	579
	Write-In	Larry Bays	0%	73
Total Votes				4,022,928
Election results via Ohio Secretary of State.

2002

On November 5, 2002, Bob Taft won re-election to the office of Governor/Lt. Governor of Ohio. He defeated Timothy Hagan, John Eastman, James Whitman and Eva Braiman in the general election.

Governor/Lt. Governor of Ohio, 2002
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Bob Taft Incumbent	57.8%	1,865,007
	Democratic	Timothy Hagan	38.3%	1,236,924
	Independent	John Eastman	3.9%	126,686
	Write-In	James Whitman	0%	291
	Write-In	Eva Braiman	0%	84
Total Votes				3,228,992
Election results via Ohio Secretary of State.

Wave election analysis

See also: Wave elections (1918-2016)

The term wave election is frequently used to describe an election cycle in which one party makes significant electoral gains. How many seats would Republicans have had to lose for the 2018 midterm election to be considered a wave election?

Ballotpedia examined the results of the 50 election cycles that occurred between 1918 and 2016—spanning from President Woodrow Wilson's (D) second midterm in 1918 to Donald Trump's (R) first presidential election in 2016. We define wave elections as the 20 percent of elections in that period resulting in the greatest seat swings against the president's party.

Applying this definition to gubernatorial elections, we found that Republicans needed to lose seven seats for 2018 to qualify as a wave election.

The chart below shows the number of seats the president's party lost in the 11 gubernatorial waves from 1918 to 2016. Click here to read the full report.

Gubernatorial wave elections
Year	President	Party	Election type	Gubernatorial seats change	Elections analyzed
1970	Nixon	R	First midterm	-12	35
1922	Harding	R	First midterm	-11	33
1932	Hoover	R	Presidential	-10	35
1920	Wilson	D	Presidential	-10	36
1994	Clinton	D	First midterm	-10	36
1930	Hoover	R	First midterm	-9	33
1938	Roosevelt	D	Second midterm	-9	33
1966	Johnson	D	First midterm	-9	35
1954	Eisenhower	R	First midterm	-8	33
1982	Reagan	R	First midterm	-7	36
2010	Obama	D	First midterm	-7	33

State overview

Partisan control

This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Ohio heading into the 2018 elections.

Congressional delegation

• Following the 2016 elections, Democrats and Republicans each held one U.S. Senate seat in Ohio.
• Republicans held 11 of 16 U.S. House seats in Ohio.

State executives

• As of May 2018, Republicans held six out of six elected state executive positions.
• The governor of Ohio was Republican John Kasich.

State legislature

• Republicans controlled both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly. They had a 23-9 majority in the state Senate and a 66-32 majority in the state House.

Trifecta status

• Ohio was under Republican trifecta control since the governor was a Republican and both chambers of the Ohio General Assembly were under Republican control.

2018 elections

See also: Ohio elections, 2018

Ohio held elections for the following positions in 2018:

• One U.S. Senate seat
• 16 U.S. House seats
• Governor and lieutenant governor
• Five other state executive offices
• 17 out of 33 state Senate seats
• 99 state House seats
• Two of seven state Supreme Court seats
• Municipal elections in Cuyahoga, Fairfield, Franklin, Hamilton, and Lucas counties, as well as the city of Toledo

Demographics

Demographic data for Ohio
	Ohio	U.S.
Total population:	11,605,090	316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):	40,861	3,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:	82.4%	73.6%
Black/African American:	12.2%	12.6%
Asian:	1.9%	5.1%
Native American:	0.2%	0.8%
Pacific Islander:	0%	0.2%
Two or more:	2.5%	3%
Hispanic/Latino:	3.4%	17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:	89.1%	86.7%
College graduation rate:	26.1%	29.8%
Income
Median household income:	$49,429	$53,889
Persons below poverty level:	19.6%	11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Ohio. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

As of July 2017, Ohio had a population of 11,700,000 people, with its three largest cities being Columbus (pop. est. 860,000), Cleveland (pop. est. 390,000), and Cincinnati (pop. est. 300,000).

State election history

This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Ohio from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Ohio Secretary of State.

Historical elections

Presidential elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Ohio every year from 2000 to 2016.

Election results (President of the United States), Ohio 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2016	Donald Trump	52.1%	Hillary Clinton	43.5%	8.6%
2012	Barack Obama	50.7%	Mitt Romney	47.7%	3.0%
2008	Barack Obama	51.5%	John McCain	46.9%	4.6%
2004	George W. Bush	50.8%	John Kerry	48.7%	2.1%
2000	George W. Bush	50.0%	Al Gore	46.5%	3.5%

U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Ohio from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

Election results (U.S. Senator), Ohio 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2016	Rob Portman	58.0%	Ted Strickland	37.2%	20.8%
2012	Sherrod Brown	50.7%	Josh Mandel	44.7%	6.0%
2010	Rob Portman	56.8%	Lee Fisher	39.4%	17.4%
2006	Sherrod Brown	56.2%	Mike DeWine	43.8%	12.4%
2004	George Voinovich	63.9%	Eric Fingerhut	36.1%	27.8%
2000	Mike DeWine	59.9%	Ted Celeste	35.9%	24.0%

Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Ohio.

Election results (Governor), Ohio 2000-2016
Year	First-place candidate	First-place candidate votes (%)	Second-place candidate	Second-place candidate votes (%)	Margin of victory (%)
2014	John Kasich	63.6%	Ed Fitzgerald	33.0%	30.6%
2010	John Kasich	49.0%	Ted Strickland	47.0%	2.0%
2006	Ted Strickland	60.5%	Ken Blackwell	36.6%	23.9%
2002	Robert Taft	57.8%	Tim Hagan	38.3%	19.5%

Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Ohio in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

Congressional delegation, Ohio 2000-2016
Year	Republicans	Republicans (%)	Democrats	Democrats (%)	Balance of power
2016	12	75.0%	4	25.0%	R+8
2014	12	75.0%	4	25.0%	R+8
2012	12	75.0%	4	25.0%	R+8
2010	13	72.2%	5	27.8%	R+8
2008	8	44.4%	10	55.6%	D+2
2006	11	61.1%	7	38.9%	R+4
2004	12	66.7%	6	33.3%	R+6
2002	12	66.7%	6	33.3%	R+6
2000	11	57.9%	8	42.1%	R+3

Trifectas, 1992-2017

A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

Ohio Party Control: 1992-2024
No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-six years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Ohio governor election 2018. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018 - Google News

See also

Ohio government:

• Ohio state executive offices
• Ohio State Legislature
• Ohio courts

Elections:

• Ohio state executive official elections, 2018
• Gubernatorial elections, 2018
• Lieutenant gubernatorial elections, 2018
• Attorney General elections, 2018
• Secretary of State elections, 2018
• State executive official elections, 2018, 2017, 2016

Ballotpedia exclusives:

• State executives compensation
• State of the state addresses
• Trifecta control of state government

External links

Suggest a link

• Governor of Ohio official website
• Lieutenant Governor of Ohio official website