The 2008 Ohio Attorney General special election was held on November 4, 2010, concurrently with the Presidential Election as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives. Incumbent Attorney GeneralMarc Dann who was elected in 2006 resigned on May 14, 2008 due to various scandals, thus triggering a special election. Governor Ted Strickland appointed Nancy H. Rogers to the position, but she announced she would not run to complete the rest of Marc's term. On June 11, 2008, Ohio State Treasurer Richard Cordray announced his candidacy for the election. He was challenged in the general election by former United States Attorney for the Southern District of OhioMichael Crites. Cordray won in a landslide winning 56% of the vote to Crites' 38%.
Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann resigned the office on May 14, 2008, due to many scandals including an Extramarital affair and many reports of sexual harassment, as well as condemnation from many fellow Ohio Democrats. As such incumbent Democratic governor Ted Strickland appointed Dean of Ohio State University Moritz College of LawNancy H. Rogers to the position. Serving since May 28, 2008, she announced that she would not seek election to finish Dann's term. Incumbent treasurerRichard Cordray, who previously ran for Attorney General announced his candidacy for the office.[1]
In the concurrently held Presidential Election Democratic candidate Barack Obama carried the state by 4.5%. Cordray carried the majority of counties in the Appalachia parts of the state and got high support from suburban counties of Columbus. Cordray also did well in the right-leaning Hamilton County home to Cincinnati. As of 2022, this election remains one of the best performances for a Democrat in Ohio in the 21st century with Cordray winning by 18 points, only being beaten by Ted Strickland's performance the 2006 Governor election.
