Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Robert Sprague
2019 - Present
2027
6
Robert Sprague (Republican Party) is the Ohio Treasurer. He assumed office on January 14, 2019. His current term ends on January 11, 2027.
Sprague (Republican Party) is running for election for Ohio Secretary of State. He declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on May 5, 2026.[source]
Sprague also ran for election for Governor of Ohio. He will not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on May 5, 2026.
Sprague is a former Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing District 83 from 2011 to 2018. He was first appointed to the chamber in February 2011 to replace Cliff Hite (R).[1]
Biography
Sprague earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Duke University in 1996 and his MBA from the University of North Carolina.[2][3] In addition to his career as an elected official in state government, Sprague was the city auditor and treasurer in Findlay, Ohio, his hometown. Sprague's professional experience includes working as a management consultant for Ernst & Young and operating his own consulting firm.[2][4]
Political career
Ohio Treasurer (2019-present)
Sprague is the 49th Ohio treasurer. He was elected on November 6, 2018. He assumed office in January 2019.
Ohio House of Representatives (2011-2018)
Sprague represented District 83 in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011 to 2018. He was first appointed to the chamber in February 2011 to replace Cliff Hite (R), who was appointed to the Ohio State Senate.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Ohio Secretary of State election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 5, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Secretary of State
Bryan Hambley and Allison Russo are running in the Democratic primary for Ohio Secretary of State on May 5, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Bryan Hambley  | |
 | Allison Russo | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Secretary of State
Robert Sprague and Marcell Strbich are running in the Republican primary for Ohio Secretary of State on May 5, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Robert Sprague | |
 | Marcell Strbich | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
See also: Ohio gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on May 5, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for Governor of Ohio
Tim Grady is running in the general election for Governor of Ohio on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Tim Grady (No Party Affiliation) | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of Ohio
Amy Acton is running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Ohio on May 5, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Amy Acton | |
| ||||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of Ohio
Heather Hill and Vivek Ramaswamy are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Ohio on May 5, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Heather Hill | |
 | Vivek Ramaswamy | |
| ||||
| = 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
- Robert Sprague (R)
- Dave Yost (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Ohio Treasurer election, 2022
General election
General election for Ohio Treasurer
Incumbent Robert Sprague defeated Scott Schertzer in the general election for Ohio Treasurer on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Sprague (R) | 58.6 | 2,390,542 |
 | Scott Schertzer (D) | 41.4 | 1,692,160 | |
| Total votes: 4,082,702 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Treasurer
Scott Schertzer advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Treasurer on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Scott Schertzer | 100.0 | 421,827 |
| Total votes: 421,827 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Treasurer
Incumbent Robert Sprague advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio Treasurer on May 3, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Sprague | 100.0 | 810,487 |
| Total votes: 810,487 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign finance
2018
- See also: Ohio Treasurer election, 2018
General election
General election for Ohio Treasurer
Robert Sprague defeated Rob Richardson in the general election for Ohio Treasurer on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Sprague (R) | 53.3 | 2,304,444 |
 | Rob Richardson (D) | 46.7 | 2,022,016 | |
| Total votes: 4,326,460 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio Treasurer
Rob Richardson advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio Treasurer on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Rob Richardson | 100.0 | 500,640 |
| Total votes: 500,640 | |||
| = 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
- Neil Patel (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio Treasurer
Robert Sprague defeated Sandra O'Brien in the Republican primary for Ohio Treasurer on May 8, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Sprague | 57.5 | 412,312 |
 | Sandra O'Brien | 42.5 | 304,540 | |
| Total votes: 716,852 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives 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.
Incumbent Robert Sprague defeated Mary Harshfield in the Ohio House of Representatives District 83 general election.[5]
| Ohio House of Representatives, District 83 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Robert Sprague Incumbent |
74.75% | 36,302 | |
| Democratic | Mary Harshfield | 25.25% | 12,264 | |
| Total Votes | 48,566 | |||
| Source: Ohio Secretary of State | ||||
Mary Harshfield ran unopposed in the Ohio House of Representatives District 83 Democratic primary.[6][7]
| Ohio House of Representatives District 83, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Mary Harshfield (unopposed) |
100.00% | 4,346 | |
| Total Votes | 4,346 | |||
Incumbent Robert Sprague defeated Kevin Rettig in the Ohio House of Representatives District 83 Republican primary.[6][7]
| Ohio House of Representatives District 83, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Robert Sprague Incumbent |
71.65% | 15,261 | |
| Republican | Kevin Rettig | 28.35% | 6,039 | |
| Total Votes | 21,300 | |||
2014
Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives 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. Incumbent Robert Sprague was unopposed in the Republican primary. Gregory Norris ran as a Libertarian candidate and Kevin Rettig ran as an Independent candidate. Sprague defeated Norris and Rettig in the general election.[8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Sprague Incumbent |
74.8% | 19,905 | |
| Independent | Kevin Rettig | 16.4% | 4,375 | |
| Libertarian | Gregory Norris | 8.8% | 2,333 | |
| Total Votes | 26,613 | |||
2012
Sprague won re-election in the 2012 election for Ohio House District 83. Sprague defeated Kevin Rettig in the March 6 Republican primary election and defeated John F. Kostyo (D) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9][10]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Robert Sprague Incumbent |
67.3% | 31,623 | |
| Democratic | John F. Kostyo | 32.7% | 15,350 | |
| Total Votes | 46,973 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Robert Sprague Incumbent |
64.8% | 10,161 |
| Kevin Rettig | 35.2% | 5,528 |
| Total Votes | 15,689 | |
Issues
ESG
| Environmental, social, and corporate governance |
|---|
|
| Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. |
Sprague took positions in opposition to the Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) movement.
State financial officers, including treasurers, auditors, and controllers, are responsible for auditing other government offices, managing payroll, and overseeing pensions. In some states, certain SFOs are also responsible for investing state retirement and trust funds.
In August 2022, Sprague said: “Since taking office in 2019, it has been our mission to be trusted stewards of public dollars and wise investors in Ohio’s future. Adopting ESG-driven investment strategies would run counter to those efforts and undermine the overall financial health of our state.”[11]
Opposition to Morningstar ratings of Israel investments (August 2022)
In late August 2022, Sprague and 17 other members of the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) co-signed a letter addressed to the Morningstar investment rating service expressing their “serious concern regarding reports that Morningstar, Inc. (Morningstar), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sustainalytics, negatively rates firms connected to Israel in apparent alignment with the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.” The letter asserted the BDS movement was “antithetical to the global causes of peace, democracy, and human rights” and asked Morningstar to take corrective action immediately to terminate all research and ratings products that treat Israel-connected companies differently than companies operating in other free democracies.”[12]
Sprague told the Cleveland Jewish News: “They’re using this BDS criteria. That does nothing more than try to isolate the state of Israel, and continues to spread hatred against the Jewish people. And I think anybody that feels like that is OK needs to understand that America is better than that.”[13]
Pro-American Energy Letter to President Biden (April 2022)
In April 2022, Sprague and 26 other state financial officers co-signed an open letter to President Joe Biden criticizing his administration for promoting an ESG agenda and enacting policies that “thwart the vitality of American energy production.” The letter specifically criticized Biden for canceling the Keystone XL pipeline, disallowing new oil and natural gas leases on federal lands, canceling drilling projects in Alaska and imposing “anti-oil and gas rulemaking from the highest levels of government.”[14]
“Instead of asking Americans to purchase electric vehicles—which is simply not an option for a great number of American families—government leaders should eliminate barriers to and expand development of these critical resources, bringing down the price of gas at the pump,” wrote the letter signers. “Most Americans cannot afford to purchase an electric vehicle or equip their home with a full set of solar panels, and many in rural America need traditional fuel to run the trucks that service their farms and help feed their communities.”[15]
Sprague said: “The answer to America’s energy problem is right beneath our feet. We need to increase domestic energy production and get America back on the path to energy independence.”[16]
Letter regarding Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board ESG rules (March 2022)
In March 2022, Sprague and 22 other state financial officers cosigned an open letter to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) objecting to the board’s decision to issue a “Request for Information on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Practices in the Municipal Securities Market.” In December 2021 the MSRB sent a letter to participants in the municipal securities market, questioning the recipients about their use of ESG criteria and their opinions regarding the propriety of using ESG criteria.[17][18]
“The seemingly innocuous RFI questions are actually precursors to MSRB rules that would require municipalities to make ESG-related disclosures,” wrote the state officers. They accused the MSRB of seeking “information that is useful for one purpose and one purpose alone: transgressing Congress’s ban on requiring disclosures from municipal issuers or regulating their content.”[19]
Opposition to Federal Reserve Bank appointee (January 2022)
In January 2022, Sprague was one of 25 members of the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) who co-signed a letter to President Joe Biden, asking him to withdraw the nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin to the Federal Reserve Bank Board of Governors.[20]
In a May 2020 New York Times commentary titled “Why Is the Fed Spending So Much Money on a Dying Industry?,” Raskin wrote that Federal Reserve policy decisions should favor green energy: “The decisions the Fed makes on our behalf should build toward a stronger economy with more jobs in innovative industries — not prop up and enrich dying ones.”[21]
Sprague and the signatories on the SFOF letter wrote that they were concerned Raskin “would use the supervisory authority as Vice-Chair for Supervision at the Federal Reserve Bank to disrupt the private banking sector, reliable energy supplies, and the U.S. economy.”[20]
In March 2022, Raskin withdrew her name from consideration for the Federal Reserve position.[22]
Letter to John Kerry regarding banking access for energy firms (May 2021)
Sprague was one of fourteen other state treasurers who co-signed a May 2021 letter sent by West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore (R) to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (D). The treasurers informed Kerry of their concern that he and others in Joe Biden’s (D) administration were “privately pressuring U.S. banks and financial institutions to refuse to lend to or invest in coal, oil, and natural gas companies, as part of a misguided strategy to eliminate the fossil fuel industry in our country.” The signatories told Kerry that they “strongly oppose the Biden Administration’s efforts to cut off financing for law-abiding industries that are essential to the economy and our citizens’ way of life.”[23]
According to a March 12, 2021, Politico story referenced in the letter, Kerry was “prodding major U.S. banks privately to announce commitments for climate-friendly finance.” The report also revealed that the Biden administration and several climate policy groups held a March 9, 2022, teleconference to discuss “potential financial sector regulations and executive actions to limit risk from climate change-fueled shocks.” Politico listed representatives from the following groups as participants on the call: the Center for American Progress, Public Citizen, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club and 350.org.[24][23]
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Robert Sprague did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Robert Sprague did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
State legislative tenure
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Ohio scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the 132nd Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 2 through December 31.
- Representatives are scored on their votes on bills affecting working families.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills impacting Ohio's business community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the 132nd Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 2 through December 31.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the 131st Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 5 through December 31.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the 131st Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 5 through December 31.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 130th Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 7 through December 31.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 130th Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 7 to December 31.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 129th Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 3 through December 31.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 129th Ohio General Assembly was in session from January 3 through December 31.[25]
|
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Ohio committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Finance |
| • Financial Institutions, Housing and Urban Development, Vice chair |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Sprague served on the following committees:
| Ohio committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Finance |
| • Financial Institutions, Housing and Urban Development |
| • Health and Aging |
| • Joint Medicaid Oversight |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Sprague served on the following committees:
| Ohio committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Finance and Appropriations |
| • Insurance |
| • Ways and Means |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Sprague served on the following committees:
| Ohio committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Criminal Justice |
| • State Government and Elections |
| • Veterans Affairs |
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Ohio Secretary of State |
Officeholder Ohio Treasurer |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ohio House Republican Caucus, "Robert C. Sprague selected by majority caucus to replace former Rep. Cliff Hite," February 1, 2011
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ohio Treasurer, “Treasurer’s Biography,” accessed March 11, 2023
- ↑ Vote Smart, “Robert Sprague's Biography,” accessed March 11, 2023
- ↑ Vote Smart, “Robert Sprague's Biography,” accessed March 11, 2023
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Official election results," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing By Office," accessed February 8, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "2016 Official Elections Results," accessed August 29, 2016
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "Official primary election results for May 6, 2014," accessed July 3, 2014
- ↑ Ohio Chamber of Commerce, "2012 General Assembly Primary Candidates," January 17, 2012
- ↑ Ohio Secretary of State, "2012 Republican Primary Results," accessed June 12, 2014
- ↑ Twitter, “Treasurer Robert Sprague: @OhioTreasurer,” August 29, 2022 (3:42pm)
- ↑ West Virginia Office of the State Treasurer, “Letter from membership of State Financial Officers Foundation to Mr. Kunal Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, Morningstar, Inc.,” August 25, 2022
- ↑ Cleveland Jewish News, “Sprague among treasurers to oppose Morningstar ratings critical of Israel,” August 30, 2022
- ↑ State Financial Officers Foundation, “Letter to President Joe Biden,” April 5, 2022
- ↑ State Financial Officers Foundation, “Letter to President Joe Biden,” April 5, 2022
- ↑ Twitter: @RobertCSprague, Post from March 8, 2022, at 7:26pm timestamp
- ↑ State of Utah, Letter to Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) Re: Request for Information on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Practices in the Municipal Securities Market (2021-17), March 8, 2022
- ↑ Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP, “Memo regarding MSRB Requests Information on ESG Practices,” December 8, 2021
- ↑ State of Utah, Letter to Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) Re: Request for Information on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Practices in the Municipal Securities Market (2021-17), March 8, 2022
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 State Financial Officers Foundation, “Letter to President Joe Biden from State Financial Officers Foundation,” January 31, 2021
- ↑ CNBC, “Republicans grill Fed nominee Raskin over past views on climate and big energy companies,” February 3, 2022
- ↑ New York Post, “Sarah Raskin withdraws Federal Reserve nomination after Joe Manchin blocks Biden pick,” March 15, 2022
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 West Virginia Office of the State Treasurer, “Letter from Riley Moore to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry,” May 25, 2021
- ↑ Politico, “Kerry to Wall Street: Put your money behind your climate PR,” March 12, 2021
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Josh Mandel (R) |
Ohio Treasurer 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Ohio House of Representatives District 83 2011-2018 |
Succeeded by Jon Cross (R) |
