Ohio State Senate elections

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State Legislatures State legislative elections, 2025 Poll opening and closing times

This page displays election information for the Ohio State Senate.

Elections

Ohio state senators serve staggered, four-year terms, and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Ohio holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026

See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2026

Elections for the Ohio State Senate will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026. The primary is May 5, 2026. The filing deadline is February 4, 2026.

2024

See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2024

Elections for the Ohio State Senate took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was March 19, 2024. The filing deadline was December 20, 2023.

Heading into the 2024 elections, Republicans held a 26-7 majority. After the election, the Republican majority was 24-9.

Ohio State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2024	After November 6, 2024
	Democratic Party	7	9
	Republican Party	26	24
Total		33	33

2022

See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2022

Elections for the Ohio State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was held on August 2, 2022. The filing deadline was February 2, 2022.

A primary was originally scheduled for May 3, 2022, but was rescheduled after the State Supreme Court rejected the state legislative maps approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission. On May 28, 2022, Secretary of State Frank LaRose called for the primary to be held on August 2.

In the November 2022 election, Republicans increased their majority in the Ohio State Senate from 25-8 to 26-7.

Ohio State Senate
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	8	7
	Republican Party	25	26
Total		33	33

2020

See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for April 28, 2020. The filing deadline was December 18, 2019.

In the November 2020 election, Republicans expanded their majority in the Ohio State Senate from 24-9 to 25-8.

Ohio State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	9	8
	Republican Party	24	25
Total		33	33

2018

See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2018

Elections for the Ohio State Senate took place in 2018. The primary election took place on May 8, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The filing deadline for partisan candidates was February 7, 2018. The filing deadline for independent candidates was May 7, 2018.

In the 2018 elections, Republicans increased their majority in the Ohio State Senate from 23-9 to 24-9.

Ohio State Senate
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	9	9
	Republican Party	23	24
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		33	33

2016

See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2016

Elections for the Ohio State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 16, 2015. A total of 16 seats out of the 33 seats in the Ohio State Senate were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 23-10 majority. Republicans gained one seat in the election, giving them a 24-9 majority.

Ohio State Senate
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	10	9
	Republican Party	23	24
Total		33	33

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

2014 See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2014 Elections for the Ohio State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 5, 2014. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 23-10 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election. Ohio State Senate Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014      Democratic Party 10 10      Republican Party 23 23 Total 33 33 2012 See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2012 Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on March 6, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was December 7, 2011. A total of 16 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 23-10 majority. No partisan change occurred in the election. Ohio State Senate Party As of November 5, 2012 After the 2012 Election      Democratic Party 10 10      Republican Party 23 23 Total 33 33 During the 2012 election, the total value of contributions to the 36 Senate candidates was $12,648,369. The top 10 contributors were: 2012 Donors, Ohio State Senate Donor Amount Republican Senate Campaign Cmte of Ohio $2,948,557 Ohio Republican Party $589,951 Ohio Democratic Party $181,958 American Electric Power $148,736 Firstenergy Corp $132,550 Ohio Senate Democrats $132,255 Ohio Association of Realtors $132,000 Ohio Education Association $130,273 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $129,667 King Strategic Communications $108,777 The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election. 2012 Margin of Victory, Ohio State Senate District Winner Margin of Victory Total Votes Top Opponent District 30 Lou Gentile 4.8% 157,287 Shane Thompson District 18 John Eklund 9.4% 166,316 Jim Mueller District 2 Randy Gardner 16.6% 175,432 Jeff Bretz District 24 Thomas Patton 17.9% 176,839 Jennifer L. Brady District 22 Larry Obhof Jr. 18.7% 159,225 James E. Riley District 20 Troy Balderson 19% 150,736 Teresa M. Scarmack District 26 Dave Burke 20.5% 142,796 Tanyce J. Addison District 10 Chris Widener 22.6% 155,631 Jeff D. Robertson District 8 Bill Seitz 22.9% 170,596 Richard G. Luken District 6 Peggy Lehner 24.8% 169,969 Rickey E. McKiddy 2010 See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2010 Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 4, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 18, 2010. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 21-12 majority. Republicans gained two seats in the election, giving them a 23-10 majority. Ohio State Senate Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election      Democratic Party 12 10      Republican Party 21 23 Total 33 33 During the 2010 election, the total value of contributions to the 57 Senate candidates was $10,478,510. The top 10 contributors were: 2010 Donors, Ohio State Senate Donor Amount Republican Senate Campaign Cmte of Ohio $2,463,124 Ohio Republican Party $1,246,811 Ohio Republican State Senate Campaign Cmte $482,625 Republican Senate Campaign Cmte $325,958 Ohio Democratic Party $213,780 Schneider, Michelle G $151,000 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $146,030 Ohio Senate Democrats $145,500 SEIU Healthcare District 1199 $125,451 Ohio Dental Association $122,600 2008 See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2008 Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 4, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. During the 2008 election, the total contributions to Senate candidates amounted to $10,964,869. The top 10 contributors were: 2008 Donors, Ohio State Senate Donor Amount Republican Senate Campaign Cmte of Ohio $3,056,587 Ohio Republican Party $655,903 Ohio Senate Democrats $230,899 Ohio Association of Realtors $159,700 Ohio Democratic Party $132,472 Brennan, David L $122,500 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $102,670 Ohio State Medical Association $83,850 Firstenergy Corp $83,500 Citizens for Gillmor $70,670 2006 See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2006 Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 2, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to the 48 Senate candidates was $14,040,261. The top 10 contributors were: 2006 Donors, Ohio State Senate Donor Amount Republican Senate Campaign Cmte of Ohio $2,911,762 Ohio Republican Party $970,751 Ohio Senate Democrats $849,418 Ohio Democratic Party $269,664 Ohio Association of Realtors $196,850 Brennan, David L $137,500 Ohio Education Association $133,550 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $127,650 Ohio Dental Association $105,334 Firstenergy Corp $95,000 2004 See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2004 Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 2, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to the 40 Senate candidates was $10,212,918. The top 10 contributors were: 2004 Donors, Ohio State Senate Donor Amount Republican Senate Campaign Cmte of Ohio $2,146,563 Ohio Republican Party $411,732 Ohio Democratic Party $325,765 Ohio Association of Realtors $90,500 Ohio House Republican Campaign Cmte $90,340 Ohio Education Association $86,800 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $76,400 Muskingum County Democratic Party $72,474 Brennan, Ann Amer $70,000 Ohio Automobile Dealers Association/Dealers Investment Group $69,600 2002 See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2002 Elections for the office of Ohio's State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 7, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to the 38 Senate candidates was $11,901,512. The top 10 contributors were: 2002 Donors, Ohio State Senate Donor Amount Republican Senate Campaign Cmte of Ohio $3,998,806 Ohio Democratic Party $869,985 Ohio Republican Party $443,802 Ohio Senate Democrats $156,754 Montgomery County Republican Party $134,510 Ohio Education Association $120,550 Democratic National Cmte $100,000 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $80,613 Ohio Association of Realtors $65,500 Ohio Society of CPAS $62,654 2000 See also: Ohio State Senate elections, 2000 Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate consisted of a primary election on March 21, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to the 41 Senate candidates was $8,804,029. The top 10 contributors were: 2000 Donors, Ohio State Senate Donor Amount Republican Senate Campaign Cmte of Ohio $779,059 Ohio Senate Democrats $296,782 Ohio Republican Party $280,412 Ohio Democratic Party $203,827 Ohio Education Association $151,069 Ohio House Republican Campaign Cmte $114,395 Ohio Society of CPAS $83,639 Ohio Association of Realtors $77,630 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $76,784 Ohio State Medical Association $67,900

Historical party control

Republicans won control of the Ohio State Senate in 1984. In 2024, they won a 23-9 majority with one vacancy.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Ohio Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Ohio State Senate election results: 1992-2024

Year	'92	'94	'96	'98	'00	'02	'04	'06	'08	'10	'12	'14	'16	'18	'20	'22	'24
Democrats	13	13	12	12	12	11	11	12	12	10	10	10	9	9	8	7	9
Republicans	20	20	21	21	21	22	22	21	21	23	23	23	24	24	25	26	23

Trifecta history

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Ohio was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: None
• Republican trifecta: 1995-2006, 2011-2023
• Divided government: 1992-1994, 2007-2010

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
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Footnotes

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