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Ohio's 7th Congressional District election, 2018

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Ohio's 7th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: February 7, 2018
Primary: May 8, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent:
Bob Gibbs (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in Ohio
Race ratings
Cook Partisan Voter Index (2018): R+12
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Likely Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
See also
Ohio's 7th Congressional District
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th • 15th • 16th • 12th (special)
Ohio elections, 2018
U.S. Congress elections, 2018
U.S. Senate elections, 2018
U.S. House elections, 2018


Incumbent Rep. Bob Gibbs (R) defeated Ken Harbaugh (D) in the November 6, 2018, general election to represent Ohio's 7th Congressional District.

All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives were up for election in 2018. The Democratic Party gained a net total of 40 seats, winning control of the chamber. This race was identified as a 2018 battleground that might have affected partisan control of the U.S. House in the 116th Congress. Heading into the election, the Republican Party was in the majority holding 235 seats to Democrats' 193 seats, with seven vacant seats. Democrats needed to win 23 GOP-held seats in 2018 to win control of the House. From 1918 to 2016, the president’s party lost an average of 29 seats in midterm elections.

Gibbs was first elected in 2010. In 2016, he was re-elected with 64 percent of the vote.

Though Pres. Donald Trump won Ohio's 7th District by almost 30 points in 2016, the district was targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in 2018.[1] DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján compared Harbaugh to Conor Lamb (D), who in March 2018 won a special election for Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District. Pennsylvania's 18th went for Trump by almost 20 percentage points in 2016.[2]

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


Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House Ohio District 7

Incumbent Bob Gibbs defeated Ken Harbaugh in the general election for U.S. House Ohio District 7 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Bob Gibbs
Bob Gibbs (R)
 
58.7
 
153,117
Image of Ken Harbaugh
Ken Harbaugh (D)
 
41.3
 
107,536

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 260,653
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 7

Ken Harbaugh defeated Patrick Pikus in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Ohio District 7 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ken Harbaugh
Ken Harbaugh
 
80.2
 
24,042
Image of Patrick Pikus
Patrick Pikus
 
19.8
 
5,937

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 29,979
Candidate Connection = 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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Ohio District 7

Incumbent Bob Gibbs defeated Patrick Quinn and Terry Robertson in the Republican primary for U.S. House Ohio District 7 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Bob Gibbs
Bob Gibbs
 
77.9
 
42,274
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Patrick Quinn
 
11.4
 
6,211
Image of Terry Robertson
Terry Robertson
 
10.6
 
5,765

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 54,250
Candidate Connection = 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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Candidate profiles

See also: Editorial approach to writing about key campaign messages


Bob Gibbs, U.S. representative from Ohio
Bob Gibbs.jpg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Republican

Incumbent: Yes

Political office: U.S. representative for Ohio's 7th Congressional District (Assumed office: 2013); U.S. representative for Ohio's 18th Congressional District (2011-2013); Ohio state senator (2009-2010); Ohio state representative (2003-2009)

Biography: Gibbs received an Associate of Applied Science degree from the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute. He founded Hidden Hollow Farms. Gibbs served as president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. In the 115th Congress, he served on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Infrastructure and Transportation.[3]

Key messages
  • Gibbs said he ran for the House in 2010 to oppose over-regulation by the federal government. He emphasized two bills he introduced aimed at cutting regulations that passed the House, his opposition to the EPA's Waters of the United States rule, and his opposition to Obamacare as examples of delivering on his goals in office.[3][4]
  • Gibbs cited reports of rising incomes and declining unemployment claims as evidence that the Republican agenda, which he described as supporting lower taxes and fewer regulations, was working for people. He highlighted his support for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.[4][5]




Ken Harbaugh, former president of Team Rubicon Global
Ken Harbaugh.jpeg

Campaign website Facebook Twitter

Party: Democratic

Incumbent: No

Political office: None

Biography: Harbaugh was a Navy pilot from 1996 to 2005. He received a B.S. in biology from Duke University and his law degree from Yale Law School. He served as executive director of The Mission Continues and of ServiceNation. He was also president of Team Rubicon Global, an organization training military veterans to aid in natural disaster areas.[6][7]

Key messages
  • Harbaugh said his military background equipped him for office, describing himself as a problem-solver. His campaign slogan was "Country Over Party."[8]
  • Harbaugh discussed healthcare in conjunction with his story of paying for his daughter's surgeries. He said he supported bipartisan efforts to protect coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, reduce premiums, and reduce prescription drug prices.[9] Harbaugh said Gibbs voted to take coverage away from some Ohioans.
  • Harbaugh said he would oppose Nancy Pelosi as House speaker if Democrats won a majority and that new leadership was needed in both parties.[10]


Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Ohio's 7th Congressional District, Gibbs (R) v. Harbaugh (D)
Poll Gibbs (R) Harbaugh (D)UndecidedMargin of ErrorSample Size
Optimus
Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2018		 55%36%8%+/-3.5800
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 editor@ballotpedia.org


Campaign finance

The chart below contains data from financial reports submitted to the Federal Election Commission.

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Bob Gibbs Republican Party $1,055,994 $1,842,914 $153,614 As of December 31, 2018
Ken Harbaugh Democratic Party $3,059,076 $3,039,510 $19,566 As of December 31, 2018

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2018. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.


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.[11][12][13]

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 Fund for a Working Congress, a super PAC, spent $92,828 on digital ads opposing Harbaugh between September 13 and October 6.[14]


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.[15]
  • 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.[16][17][18]

Race ratings: Ohio's 7th Congressional District election, 2018
Race trackerRace ratings
October 30, 2018October 23, 2018October 16, 2018October 9, 2018
The Cook Political ReportSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. GonzalesSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid RepublicanSolid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal BallLikely RepublicanLikely RepublicanLikely RepublicanLikely Republican
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season.

District analysis

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores

The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+12, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 12 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Ohio's 7th Congressional District the 115th most Republican nationally.[19]

FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 1.09. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 1.09 points toward that party.[20]

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.


Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites.

Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Democratic Party Ken Harbaugh

"You" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released October 31, 2018
"Not a Politician" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released October 31, 2018
"It Matters" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released October 31, 2018
"Do the Work" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released October 31, 2018
"Dedication to Service" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released October 31, 2018
"Banner" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released October 18, 2018
"Lizzie" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released September 20, 2018
"Not Your Father's Candidate" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released September 7, 2018
"Ken Harbaugh" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released July 20, 2018


Republican Party Bob Gibbs

Oppose

"Out of Patience" - Ken Harbaugh ad, released October 31, 2018

Debates and forums

  • October 29, 2018: Gibbs and Harbaugh participated in a debate. View coverage of the event here.

Campaign themes

Bob Gibbs

The following themes were found on Gibbs' campaign website.

“

JOBS AND THE ECONOMY
Ohioans want to know that Washington is working for us, not the other way around. I understand that government does not create jobs, people do. We need an economic policy that gets DC bureaucrats out of the way of the men and women who start and expand their businesses. We cannot afford to have bureaucratic red tape and senseless regulations prevent our parents, siblings, or friends and neighbors from achieving the American Dream.

If we want to give every person his or her chance at the American Dream, we have to: 1. Get federal spending under control 2. Enact commonsense regulatory reform that does not punish those just starting a business 3. Tackle and reform our tax code to help families and incentivize work for all Americans 4. Promote an energy policy that encourages the responsible development of our natural resources, creating a safe, reliable and affordable energy supply for all Americans

GOVERNMENT SPENDING
It’s no secret that Washington’s spending is out of control. We cannot continue down the path we are on and DC’s reckless spending must be reined in. I have consistently voted against legislation that increases spending. It is time government learns to live within their means, which is why I support a constitutional amendment requiring Congress to balance the budget every year.

REGULATORY REFORM
One thing I hear all the time from Ohioans is that government rules and regulations can make life a nightmare for farmers, business owners or entrepreneurs. Burdensome and unnecessary regulations are hidden taxes that make it harder for Americans to realize their full potential. Worse yet, it drives up prices for those struggling to get by. I am on record supporting legislation that requires Congress give an up or down vote on costly new regulations that will negatively impact Americans. If we want to reform Washington, we have to reform the way they regulate.

TAX REFORM
Washington’s overspending won’t be solved with higher taxes. We cannot tax our way out of deficit spending and should not do it on the backs of Ohio’s families. We need a tax code that gives Americans the opportunity to rise and that encourages economic growth. Our tax system should encourage American companies to stay in the United States and to hire American workers. Having the highest corporate tax rate in the world only incentivizes companies to move their operations and workforce overseas. We need a tax policy that encourages and rewards work, a system that helps people be lifted up out of poverty.

THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS
The Second Amendment is not a suggestion; it is a God-given right of the people to self-defense. I have consistently supported legislation that protects and expands an American’s right to keep and bear arms. Gun control regulations will only hurt law-abiding citizens while doing nothing to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. I am proud of my record of supporting the right of sportsmen to carry concealed firearms on government lands and expanding the ability of Americans who follow the law to carry concealed firearms.

PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO LIFE
Every life is precious, a gift from God. We should do everything we can to protect the lives of the unborn, those who are the most vulnerable and voiceless. I have always supported pro-life efforts and believe groups that perform abortions, like Planned Parenthood, should not get one dime of taxpayer dollars. I have also supported legislation that stops abortions later than 20 weeks, which is when babies are able to begin feeling pain. We must do more to protect those who cannot speak for themselves.

ENERGY
We have been blessed with an abundance of natural resources. The energy renaissance occurring in Ohio and other states has shown that new technologies and private sector innovation is the key to a thriving economy powered by safe, reliable and affordable energy. Obama’s war on coal is having devastating effects on the communities that rely on coal for jobs and for affordable energy.

The take-home pay for everyday Americans is stagnant, so why would anyone want to squeeze their budgets even further? Making it harder and more expensive to mine and utilize coal will hurt Americans that are already hurting the most.

I believe in an energy policy that encourages the responsible development of our naturals resources, creates jobs and powers our economy with safe and affordable energy.

HEALTH CARE
It’s simple: Obamacare must be repealed. Premiums are skyrocketing, deductibles are increasing and coverage networks are shrinking. Government-run healthcare is not the answer.

We need health care reform that empowers Americans to take control of their care, to make sure decisions are made between a doctor and a patient. Bureaucrats in Washington should not be deciding what treatments a patient should be getting.

Health care reform must focus on these principles: 1. Strenghten the doctor-patient relationship 2. Encourage the use of health savings accounts for routine visits and preventive care 3. Implement market-based reforms that encourage private sector competition

There’s no doubt that our health care industry needs reforms, but bigger government will make the problems worse.

NATIONAL SECURITY
Our top priority needs to be the protection and safety of our nation. We are facing threats at home and abroad. ISIS is a real threat to the United States; it is not the JV team Obama says it is. We must do everything we can to protect our nation and prevent a major attack on U.S. soil. Recent attacks in Europe highlight how important it is to thoroughly vet refugees attempting to enter the United States. We should pause our acceptance of Syrian and Iraqi refugees until a system is put in place to make absolutely certain there are no terrorists slipping through the cracks and entering our nation.

Our enemies abroad have taken advantage of Obama’s weaknesses. I opposed the nuclear deal with Iran from day one. It is irresponsible to allow a nation that chants “Death to America” and calls for the destruction of our ally Israel to conduct nuclear research. That is why I have voted against this deal. We need to reverse the Iran nuclear deal before they get their hands on a nuclear weapon.[21]

”
—Bob Gibbs' 2018 campaign website[22]


Ken Harbaugh

The following themes were found on Harbaugh's campaign website.

“

HEALTH CARE
Every American should have access to affordable health care.

BRING HEALTH CARE COSTS DOWN. All families should be able to take their kids to the doctor without worrying whether the bills will bankrupt them. All retirees should be able to fill prescriptions without worrying the medicine will cost more than their house payment. Our Congress must work together to bring these costs down. Let’s allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices so we can pass those savings on to hardworking Ohioans. Congress should vote on a bipartisan bill to fund the health insurance markets. They should be fixing health care rather than taking it away from people. And they should be working together. I'll work with anyone from either party who wants to help people with pre-existing conditions, who wants to reduce insurance premiums, and lower prescription drug prices.

FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE. I have a daughter who needed 4 surgeries before she was 4 years old. No family should have to wonder, like ours did, whether they will be able to pay for the critical care a child needs. Rural hospitals should not be shut down to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. I strongly support bipartisan efforts to fix our healthcare system, and am encouraged by the efforts of individuals like Gov. Kasich, Sen. Murray, and Sen. Alexander who have reached across the aisle to propose reforms to our healthcare system.

ENCOURAGE INNOVATIONS IN TREATMENT AND CARE. For those who can afford it, America has some of the best health care in the world. Yet we spend more money on health care than any other developed nation for worse outcomes. Ohioans are better at solving problems than politicians in Washington. We need to unleash the potential that innovation can bring, both in the medical and life sciences, and create competitive marketplaces for affordable health care coverage.

JOBS
Every Ohioan who does an honest day's work should be able to support a family and get ahead.

LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD. Ohio workers are the best in the world, and they deserve a level-playing field. We must fight not just for Made in America, but Made in Ohio. We must rebuild our roads, bridges, schools, and power lines. These projects should be contracted to Ohio companies, the work should be done by Ohio workers using Ohio steel, and the outcome will be a stronger Ohio for our children and grandkids. And let’s get rid of tax loopholes for corporations that ship jobs overseas. Let’s make Ohio the best state in the country in which to start and run a small business.

FIGHT SO-CALLED “RIGHT TO WORK” Every Ohioan who does an honest day’s work should be able to support a family and get ahead. Right to Work legislation undermines workplace safety and diminishes collective bargaining power across the state. I stand with Ohio’s workers in rejecting Right to Work, so that our laborers can earn fair pay for a day’s work and the financial security to provide for their families.

INVEST IN A 21ST CENTURY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY Ohio’s infrastructure is suffering from years of neglect on the part of our representatives in Washington. We must rebuild in order to attract new businesses and put Ohioans to work. This investment must be massive, and go beyond roads and bridges to include a 21st-century electrical grid and a commitment to renewable energy. We will stand up to those who pit jobs against the environment. That is a false choice. We can attract decent, good-paying jobs to the Ohio 7th without ruining our water and air.

ENDING THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
As Ohioans, we have a moral and economic imperative to solve the Opioid Crisis.

WE NEED TO STOP THE BLEEDING We have a crisis here in our state. More than 5000 Ohioans overdosed last year. Opioid fatalities rose 36% in 2016 and overdose numbers for 2017 outpaced those. These drugs are flooding our state and destroying Ohio families. The Stark County morgue had to buy a freezer truck to keep up with the death toll. In the face of these tragedies, Representative Bob Gibbs has voted to cut health care, defund treatment centers, and close rural hospitals.

We must take immediate steps to treat people suffering from addiction and prevent new crises from forming. Currently, only 10% of Americans addicted to opioids have access to treatment. There are programs in this country that have proven an ability to prevent relapse after an overdose. Certified Community Health Behavioral Clinics (CCHBCs) are specialized clinics that increase capacity, collaboration and access to treatment by partnering with hospitals, schools, prisons, and courts. Currently, Ohio does not have CCHBCs. We need to replicate those programs here in Ohio, and create others using similar models, so that everyone who needs treatment receives it without delay.

WE NEED TO BREAK THE CYCLE During my ride-alongs with local law enforcement, officers have said again and again: “We cannot arrest our way out of this problem.” We have to stop viewing the opioid epidemic as a simply a crime wave. Many of our substance-addicted Ohioans were prescribed these drugs by doctors. We have spoken to patients who were sent home from routine surgery with 90 pain pills when they only needed 2. In many ways, this is a man-made epidemic. Many of our doctors have begun to rethink prescriptions and this is a good start. In Lorain County, the Recovery Courts have been proven to significantly reduce drug use and crime, and are more cost-effective than any other criminal justice strategy. I will work to replicate this successful system across the District to break the cycle of addiction in our communities.

WE NEED TO REINSTILL PURPOSE We need to empower recovering addicts to rejoin society. Ohio’s own Road to Hope empowers those in recovery to reintegrate back into their communities. The addicted person receives “support, guidance and faith necessary to become a productive member of society, while living a regimen of daily sobriety.” Personal Responsibility is at the heart of that program. Job training and workforce placement have been proven to dramatically decrease the relapse rate of addicts in recovery. If elected, I will make sure that these successful programs receive the resources they need to help our neighbors get back on their feet.

EDUCATION
Every child deserves a high-quality education.

FIGHTING FOR CHILDREN, AND FOR OUR FUTURE. When I became a parent, my priorities changed. Suddenly it wasn’t all about me. Every choice I made was for my kids. At the end of the day, that’s what this campaign is all about: our children. And building a future they can believe in. A future they deserve. Every child deserves a great education. Instead, over the past seven years, Ohio’s student performance has dropped from 5th to 23rd in the nation. It’s time for that slide to end.

REVITALIZING OHIO’S SCHOOLS. 50% of Ohio’s school districts have deteriorating buildings. We need to invest in our children’s places of learning. Our teachers need our support, and our schools need to be upgraded. When we talk about infrastructure we should be talking more than roads and bridges -- building world-class schools should be a part of any infrastructure bill we pass. But we must be good stewards of that investment. We need to use our resources more efficiently. For too long, for-profit charter schools have been an inefficiency dragging down our school systems, treating children as profit centers instead of our most precious treasures. If a charter school is doing right by its students, that’s great. But the success of one school cannot come at the expense of others. Any school receiving public money must be held to the same standards as traditional public schools. Above all, our kids cannot be treated as revenue generators, enriching a few for-profit companies while public education goes underfunded. Public schools in our state should be active centers of learning and the lifeblood of their communities.

PROMOTE POST-SECONDARY OPPORTUNITY. I support making community college more affordable and creating more partnerships between local small businesses and college students. Ohio should be open for business. For those students who choose to go to university, getting an education should not mire you in debt. The government and predatory lenders have to stop profiting off student loans. We should simplify the process and index Pell grants to inflation to stop pay increases. I would support creating stronger national service programs that incentivize students to give back to our country.

VETERANS
We must uphold our promises to our veterans, just as they upheld their promises to us.

WE NEED MORE VETERANS IN CONGRESS. Congress today has fewer military veterans than at any point in modern history. But we are poised to change that. In 2018, more vets are running for office than at any moment in my lifetime. Because of the growing inability of Washington to deal responsibly with the threats facing our nation, veterans from both sides of the aisle are stepping into the breach. We need lawmakers who grasp the cost of going to war. And we need leaders with the moral authority to speak on these issues, leaders who have themselves been on the front lines of these challenges.

When I joined the Navy, I swore an oath to the Constitution, not to a party or even to a President. Too often, our representatives in Washington forget why they’re in DC -- to fight for us. I am running for Congress to return to a time when our representatives put country over party, service above self, and fought for opportunity for all. I think that’s a message that everyone -- Republican, Democrat, or anywhere in between -- can get behind.

WE MUST FUND OUR MILITARY TO KEEP AMERICANS SAFE. In the days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, I led a Combat Reconnaissance Aircrew in an intelligence collection mission against North Korea. Before takeoff, I briefed my crew. “Keep your guard up. We are facing an enemy that is still at war with the United States. They may think America is vulnerable right now, but that is why we are here. Treat every decision like your life depends on it.”

Today, we face our gravest geopolitical challenge since 9/11. Our country remains at war in Afghanistan, we have troops engaged in North Africa, Iraq and Syria, and Russia continues to bully our allies. Meanwhile, North Korea has the ability to directly threaten the American mainland with nuclear missiles.

Now, more than ever, we need decision-makers in Washington who understand the nature of these threats. We need lawmakers who grasp the cost of going to war. And we need leaders with the moral authority to speak on tough issues, leaders who have themselves been on the front lines of disasters.

WE NEED TO DO RIGHT BY VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. We owe a debt of service to our veterans. That includes providing timely medical care, unfettered access to mental health services, and continuing education benefits. For service members transitioning back to civilian life, we must value them as assets to their communities, not liabilities. Most of all, we cannot allow families of the fallen to shoulder their burdens alone. We must eliminate the “widows’ tax,” and we must do it now. Families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty deserve the full range of promised benefits.[21]

”
—Ken Harbaugh's 2018 campaign website[9]

Social media

Twitter accounts

Facebook accounts

Click the icons below to visit the candidates' Facebook pages.

Republican Party Bob Gibbs Facebook

Democratic Party Ken Harbaugh Facebook

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.[23][24]

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.

District history

2016

See also: Ohio's 7th Congressional District election, 2016

Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Bob Gibbs (R) defeated Roy Rich (D) and Dan Phillip (I) in the general election. Gibbs defeated Terry Robertson in the Republican primary on March 15, 2016. Rich was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[25]

U.S. House, Ohio District 7 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBob Gibbs Incumbent 64% 198,221
     Democratic Roy Rich 29% 89,638
     Independent Dan Phillip 7% 21,694
Total Votes 309,553
Source: Ohio Secretary of State


U.S. House, Ohio District 7 Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngBob Gibbs Incumbent 74.7% 80,853
Terry Robertson 25.3% 27,453
Total Votes 108,306
Source: Ohio Secretary of State

2014

See also: Ohio's 7th Congressional District elections, 2014

The 7th Congressional District of Ohio held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Bob Gibbs (R) won an uncontested general election.

U.S. House, Ohio District 7 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBob Gibbs Incumbent 100% 143,959
Total Votes 143,959
Source: Ohio Secretary of State

2012

The 7th Congressional District of Ohio held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. The incumbent from the 18th District, Bob Gibbs, won the election in the district.[26]

U.S. House, Ohio District 7 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Joyce Healy-Abrams 43.6% 137,708
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBob Gibbs Incumbent 56.4% 178,104
Total Votes 315,812
Source: Ohio Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010

On November 2, 2010, Steve Austria won election to the United States House. He defeated Bill Conner (D), John D. Anderson (L), and David W. Easton (Constitution) in the general election.[27]

U.S. House, Ohio District 7 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngSteve Austria incumbent 62.2% 135,721
     Democratic Bill Conner 32.2% 70,400
     Libertarian John D. Anderson 4.3% 9,381
     Constitution David W. Easton 1.3% 2,811
Total Votes 218,313

State overview

Partisan control

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

Congressional delegation

State executives

State legislature

Trifecta status

2018 elections

See also: Ohio elections, 2018

Ohio held elections for the following positions in 2018:

Demographics

Demographic data for Ohio
 OhioU.S.
Total population:11,605,090316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):40,8613,531,905
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).[28][29]

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 Republican Party Donald Trump 52.1% Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 43.5% 8.6%
2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 50.7% Republican Party Mitt Romney 47.7% 3.0%
2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 51.5% Republican Party John McCain 46.9% 4.6%
2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 50.8% Democratic Party John Kerry 48.7% 2.1%
2000 Republican Party George W. Bush 50.0% Democratic Party 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 Republican Party Rob Portman 58.0% Democratic Party Ted Strickland 37.2% 20.8%
2012 Democratic Party Sherrod Brown 50.7% Republican Party Josh Mandel 44.7% 6.0%
2010 Republican Party Rob Portman 56.8% Democratic Party Lee Fisher 39.4% 17.4%
2006 Democratic Party Sherrod Brown 56.2% Republican Party Mike DeWine 43.8% 12.4%
2004 Republican Party George Voinovich 63.9% Democratic Party Eric Fingerhut 36.1% 27.8%
2000 Republican Party Mike DeWine 59.9% Democratic Party 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 Republican Party John Kasich 63.6% Democratic Party Ed Fitzgerald 33.0% 30.6%
2010 Republican Party John Kasich 49.0% Democratic Party Ted Strickland 47.0% 2.0%
2006 Democratic Party Ted Strickland 60.5% Republican Party Ken Blackwell 36.6% 23.9%
2002 Republican Party Robert Taft 57.8% Democratic Party 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 Republican Party 12 75.0% Democratic Party 4 25.0% R+8
2014 Republican Party 12 75.0% Democratic Party 4 25.0% R+8
2012 Republican Party 12 75.0% Democratic Party 4 25.0% R+8
2010 Republican Party 13 72.2% Democratic Party 5 27.8% R+8
2008 Republican Party 8 44.4% Democratic Party 10 55.6% D+2
2006 Republican Party 11 61.1% Democratic Party 7 38.9% R+4
2004 Republican Party 12 66.7% Democratic Party 6 33.3% R+6
2002 Republican Party 12 66.7% Democratic Party 6 33.3% R+6
2000 Republican Party 11 57.9% Democratic Party 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


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ DCCC, "Races," accessed October 24, 2018
  2. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' presidential results by congressional district for 2016, 2012, and 2008," accessed October 7, 2018
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bob Gibbs' 2018 campaign website, "About Bob," accessed September 24, 2018
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 'Bob Gibbs' 2018 campaign website, "Bob's 4-Point Plan," accessed September 24, 2018
  5. ↑ Facebook, "Bob Gibbs for Congress," accessed September 24, 2018
  6. ↑ Ken Harbaugh's 2018 campaign website, "About Ken," September 24, 2018
  7. ↑ Vote Smart, "Ken Harbaugh's Biography," accessed September 24, 2018
  8. ↑ Ken Harbaugh's 2018 campaign website, "Home," accessed September 24, 2018
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ken Harbaugh's 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed September 24, 2018
  10. ↑ CantonRep.com, "Harbaugh focuses on need for change," July 29, 2018
  11. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  12. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  13. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 ProPublica, "Ohio’s 7th District House Race - 2018 cycle," accessed November 5, 2018
  15. ↑ Inside Elections also uses Tilt ratings to indicate an even smaller advantage and greater competitiveness.
  16. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Nathan Gonzalez," April 19, 2018
  17. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Kyle Kondik," April 19, 2018
  18. ↑ Amee LaTour, "Email correspondence with Charlie Cook," April 22, 2018
  19. ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
  20. ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  22. ↑ Bob Gibbs' 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed September 24, 2018
  23. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  24. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  25. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Ohio 2016 March Primary Candidate List," accessed March 11, 2016
  26. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Ohio," accessed November 11, 2012
  27. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
  28. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts - Ohio," accessed April 4, 2018
  29. ↑ Ohio Demographics, "Ohio Cities by Population," accessed April 4, 2018
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Ohio's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Jon Husted (R)
Bernie Moreno (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
Bob Latta (R)
District 6
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District 8
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