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Ohio Attorney General election, 2018 (May 8 Democratic primary)

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Ohio Attorney General
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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(s):
Richard Michael DeWine (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in Ohio
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
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A Democratic Party primary election took place on May 8, 2018 in Ohio to determine which candidate would run as the party's nominee in the state's November 6, 2018, attorney general election.

For more information about attorney general elections in 2018, click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the 2018 election, the sitting attorney general was Mike DeWine (R), who was first elected in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. DeWine was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term in 2018.
  • In 2018, Ohio was under a Republican trifecta. It had held this status since 2011, when Gov. John Kasich (R) took office and Republicans gained a majority in the Ohio House of Representatives. Ohio was also under a Republican triplex.
  • In presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Ohio was won by the Republican candidate in 2000, 2004, and 2016 and by the Democratic candidate in 2008 and 2012. The widest margin of victory was Donald Trump's eight percent margin in 2016 while the narrowest was George W. Bush's two percent margin in 2004.

    • Candidates and election results

    Steven Dettelbach advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Ohio on May 8, 2018.

    Democratic primary election

    Democratic primary for Attorney General of Ohio

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Image of Steven Dettelbach
    		Steven Dettelbach
     
    100.0
     
    		510,741

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

    		Total votes: 510,741
    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.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

    Context of the 2018 election

    Past elections

    2014

    See also: Ohio attorney general election, 2014

    David Pepper was unopposed in the 2014 Democratic primary election.[1]

    Voter information

    How the primary works

    A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Ohio utilizes an open primary system. In an open primary system, a voter does not have to register with a political party beforehand in order to vote in that party's primary. In Ohio, voters select their preferred party primary ballots at their polling places on Election Day.[2][3][4][5]

    For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

    Poll times

    In Ohio, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Voters who are in line at 7:30 p.m. are permitted to vote.[6]

    Registration requirements

    Check your voter registration status here.

    To register to vote in Ohio, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election, and at least 18 years old by the day of the election. Individuals who are incarcerated for a felony conviction, have been declared by a court to be incompetent for voting purposes, or have been permanently disenfranchised may not register to vote.[7]

    Applicants may register to vote online, in person, or by mail. The Ohio Voter Registration and Information Update Form is available online and can be requested by mail. In-person voter registration is available at various locations including the secretary of state and board of elections offices, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles offices, public libraries and high schools, and other state agencies. A full list of locations is available here.

    The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the next election. An Ohio driver’s license number, state ID card number, or the last four digits of a SSN is required in order to register to vote or update a voter registration.[8][9]

    Automatic registration

    Ohio does not practice automatic voter registration.[10]

    Online registration

    See also: Online voter registration

    Ohio has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

    Same-day registration

    Ohio does not allow same-day voter registration.[10]

    Residency requirements

    Prospective voters must be residents of Ohio for at least 30 days before the election.[10]

    Verification of citizenship

    See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

    Ohio does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "whoever commits election falsification is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree."[11]

    All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[12] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

    Verifying your registration

    The Ohio Secretary of State’s Office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

    Voter ID requirements

    Ohio requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[13]

    The following list of accepted ID was current as of April 2023. Click here for the Ohio Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

    “
    • Ohio driver's license;
    • State of Ohio ID card;
    • Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV;
    • A US passport;
    • A US passport card;
    • US military ID card;
    • Ohio National Guard ID card; or
    • US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card

    All photo IDs must have the following:

    • An expiration date that has not passed;
    • A photograph of the voter;
    • The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the Poll List or in the Poll Book[14]
    		 ”

    Early voting

    Ohio permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

    Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

    Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

    Absentee voting

    All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Ohio. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[15]

    Absentee ballots may be requested for each individual election beginning on January 1, or 90 days before the date of an election, whichever is earlier. The request must be received by the local county board of elections by the close of business on the seventh day before the election. A returned absentee ballot must then be postmarked at least one day before Election Day and received by the elections board no later than 4 days after the election.[15][16]


    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).[17][18]

    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


    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.[19][20]

    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.


    See also

    Ohio government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "2014 Election Results," accessed September 29, 2017
    2. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 25, 2019
    3. ↑ FairVote, "Primaries," accessed October 25, 2019
    4. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
    5. ↑ LAWriter Ohio Laws and Rules, "3501.01 Election procedure - election officials definitions.," accessed October 25, 2019
    6. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, “Election Day Voting,” accessed April 12, 2023
    7. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, “Voter Eligibility & Residency Requirements,” accessed April 12, 2023
    8. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, “Register to Vote and Update Your Registration,” accessed April 6, 2023
    9. ↑ Democracy Docket, “Ohio Governor Signs Strict Photo ID Bill Into Law,” January 6, 2023
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed August 7, 2024
    11. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Voter Registration and Information Update Form," accessed November 2, 2024
    12. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
    13. ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Identification requirements," accessed Aprl 6, 2023
    14. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "Voting Absentee by Mail," accessed April 6, 2023
    16. ↑ Democracy Docket, "Ohio Governor Signs Strict Photo ID Bill Into Law," January 6, 2023
    17. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts - Ohio," accessed April 4, 2018
    18. ↑ Ohio Demographics, "Ohio Cities by Population," accessed April 4, 2018
    19. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
    20. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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