2020 Ohio Senate election
← 2018 November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03) 2022 →
16 seats from even-numbered districts in the Ohio Senate
17 seats needed for a majority
Turnout74.0% (Increase2.7pp)[a]
  Majority party Minority party
 
Leader Larry Obhof Kenny Yuko
Party Republican Democratic
Leader since January 3, 2019 April 26, 2017
Leader's seat District 22 District 25
Seats before 24 9
Seats after 25 8
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Popular vote 1,754,433 1,097,400
Percentage 61.47% 38.45%
Swing Decrease 5.14% Increase 5.07%
Results
     Democratic hold

     Republican hold      Republican gain

     Not up for election
President of the Ohio Senate before election

Larry Obhof
Republican

Elected President of the Ohio Senate

Matt Huffman
Republican

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The 2020 Ohio Senate election was held on November 3, 2020, with the primary election held on April 28, 2020.[b] Ohio voters elected state senators in the 16 even-numbered Ohio Senate districts. State senators elected in 2020 will be eligible to serve a four-year term beginning January 2021 and ending December 2024. These elections coincided with elections for U.S. President and the Ohio House.

Although Democrats had hoped to break the Republican supermajority in the chamber (which would have required them to pick up three seats), they ended up losing one, further consolidating Republican control.

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[3] Likely R October 21, 2020

Statewide results

Party Candidates Votes Seats Won
No. % +/– No. +/– %
Republican Party 16 1,754,433 61.48 Decrease 5.14 15 Increase 1 93.75
Democratic Party 16 1,097,400 38.45 Increase 5.07 1 Decrease 1 6.25
Independent 2 1,950 0.07 Increase 0.07 0 Steady 0 0.00
Total 2,853,783 100.00 16 100.00
Popular vote
Republican
 
 61.48%
Democratic
 
 38.45%
Independent
 
 0.07%
Senate seats won
Republican
 
 93.75%
Democratic
 
 6.25%

Close races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:

  1. District 16, 0.06%
  2. District 32, 2% (gain)
  3. District 6, 6.34%
  4. District 24, 8.68%

Results by district

Overview

Results of the 2020 Ohio Senate election
District Incumbent Status Incumbent Winner Result
2nd Running Theresa Gavarone Incumbent Republican re-elected
4th Term-limited Bill Coley George Lang Republican hold
6th Term-limited Peggy Lehner Niraj Antani Republican hold
8th Running Louis Blessing Incumbent Republican re-elected
10th Running Bob Hackett Incumbent Republican re-elected
12th Running Matt Huffman Incumbent Republican re-elected
14th Running Terry Johnson Incumbent Republican re-elected
16th Running Stephanie Kunze Incumbent Republican re-elected
18th Term-limited John Eklund Jerry Cirino Republican hold
20th Running Tim Schaffer Incumbent Republican re-elected
22nd Term-limited Larry Obhof Mark Romanchuk Republican hold
24th Running Matt Dolan Incumbent Republican re-elected
26th Term-limited David Burke Bill Reineke Republican hold
28th Running Vernon Sykes Incumbent Democrat re-elected
30th Running Frank Hoagland Incumbent Republican re-elected
32nd Running Sean O'Brien Sandra O'Brien Republican gain

Detailed results

[4]

District 2

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joel O'Dorisio 12,170 52.2
Democratic Reem Subei 11,162 47.8
Total votes 23,332 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Theresa Gavarone (incumbent) 17,352 100.0
Total votes 17,352 100.0
General election results
Ohio's 2nd Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Theresa Gavarone (incumbent) 122,084 62.2
Democratic Joel O'Dorisio 74,240 37.8
Total votes 196,324 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease4.2

District 4

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kathy Wyenandt 12,568 100.0
Total votes 12,568 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Lang 12,579 49.4
Republican Candice Keller 8,318 32.7
Republican Lee Wong 4,568 17.9
Total votes 25,465 100.0
General election results
Ohio's 4th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican George Lang 106,021 60.5
Democratic Kathy Wyenandt 68,000 38.8
Independent Kent Keller (write-in) 1,126 0.6
Total votes 175,147 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease7.1

District 6

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mark Fogel 16,867 82.2
Democratic Albert Griggs, Jr. 3,643 17.8
Total votes 20,510 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Niraj Antani 14,866 64.4
Republican Rachel Selby 5,317 23.1
Republican Gregory Alan Robinson 2,885 12.5
Total votes 23,068 100.0
General election results
Ohio's 6th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Niraj Antani 99,096 53.2
Democratic Mark Fogel 87,280 46.8
Total votes 186,376 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease14.9

District 8

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Daniel Brown 18,091 100.0
Total votes 18,091 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Louis Blessing (incumbent) 20,544 100.0
Total votes 20,544 100.0
General election results
Ohio's 8th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Louis Blessing (incumbent) 112,313 60.1
Democratic Daniel Brown 74,565 39.9
Total votes 186,878 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease2.8

District 10

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Charles Ballard 16,232 100.0
Total votes 16,232 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Hackett (incumbent) 29,116 100.0
Total votes 29,116 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 10th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Hackett (incumbent) 109,456 65.3
Democratic Charles Ballard 58,126 34.7
Total votes 167,582 100.0
Republican hold Swing Increase0.2

District 12

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ken Poling 10,900 100.0
Total votes 10,900 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Huffman (incumbent) 33,710 100.0
Total votes 33,710 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 12th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Huffman (incumbent) 129,218
Democratic Ken Poling 33,800 20.7
Total votes 164,018 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease20.7[c]

District 14

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ryan Ottney 13,060 100.0
Total votes 13,060 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Terry Johnson (incumbent) 29,928 76.3
Republican David Uible 9,278 23.7
Total votes 39,206 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 14th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Terry Johnson (incumbent) 127,588 72.7
Democratic Ryan Ottney 47,843 27.3
Total votes 175,431 100.0
Republican hold Swing Increase0.8

District 16

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Crystal Lett 23,349 78.8
Democratic Troy Doucet 4,389 14.8
Democratic Mark Bailey 1,880 6.4
Total votes 29,618 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Kunze (incumbent) 13,098 100.0
Total votes 13,098 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 16th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Stephanie Kunze (incumbent) 106,053 50.03
Democratic Crystal Lett 105,937 49.97
Total votes 211,990 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease9.0

District 18

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Betsy Rader 23,183 100.0
Total votes 23,183 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jerry Cirino 23,690 100.0
Total votes 23,690 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 18th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jerry Cirino 115,754 60.5
Democratic Betsy Rader 75,535 39.5
Total votes 191,289 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease4.8

District 20

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Christian Johnson 13,993 100.0
Total votes 13,993 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tim Schaffer (incumbent) 25,458 100.0
Total votes 25,458 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 20th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tim Schaffer (incumbent) 121,844 69.5
Democratic Christian Johnson 53,477 30.5
Total votes 175,321 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease30.5[d]

District 22

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Johnson 16,506 100.0
Total votes 16,506 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Romanchuk 17,629 58.3
Republican Ron Falconi 6,909 22.8
Republican Cory Branham 3,701 12.2
Republican Michael Reynolds 1,289 4.3
Republican Timothy Hoven 726 2.4
Total votes 30,254 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 22nd Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Romanchuk 130,273 68.9
Democratic Ryan Hunger[e] 58,924 31.1
Total votes 189,197 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease0.9

District 24

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Jackson 28,496 100.0
Total votes 28,496 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Dolan (incumbent) 18,161 100.0
Total votes 18,161 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 24th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Matt Dolan (Incumbent) 112,609 54.3
Democratic Tom Jackson 94,633 45.7
Total votes 207,242 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease3.8

District 26

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Craig Swartz 14,208 100.0
Total votes 14,208 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Reineke 25,363 64.7
Republican Melissa Ackison 13,864 35.3
Total votes 39,227 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 26th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Reineke 114,776 70.6
Democratic Craig Swartz 47,050 28.9
Independent Robert Taylor (write-in) 824 0.5
Total votes 162,650 100.0
Republican hold Swing Decrease29.4[f]

District 28

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Vernon Sykes (incumbent) 24,995 100.0
Total votes 24,995 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Michael Downey 8,626 100.0
Total votes 8,626 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 28th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Vernon Sykes (incumbent) 88,929 59.8
Republican Michael Downey 59,701 40.2
Total votes 148,630 100.0
Democratic hold Swing Decrease1.4

District 30

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Michael Fletcher 19,731 100.0
Total votes 19,731 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Hoagland (incumbent) 24,726 100.0
Total votes 24,726 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 30th Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Frank Hoagland (incumbent) 110,243 66.8
Democratic Michael Fletcher 54.694 33.2
Total votes 164,937 100.0
Republican hold Swing Increase13.9

District 32

Primary results
Democratic primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sean O'Brien (incumbent) 26,151 100.0
Total votes 26,151 100.0
Republican primary
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sandra O'Brien 13,519 69.3
Republican Kenneth Polke 5,983 30.7
Total votes 19,502 100.0
General Election Results
Ohio's 32nd Senate District General Election, 2020
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sandra O'Brien 77,404 51.0
Democratic Sean O'Brien (incumbent) 74,367 49.0
Total votes 151,771 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic Swing Increase7.4

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Compared to 2016, the last time these seats were up.
  2. ^ The primary election was originally scheduled for March 17, 2020. As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Mike DeWine announced that the primary would be moved to June 2.[1] Shortly thereafter, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill setting an almost entirely vote-by-mail primary for April 28.[2]
  3. ^ Seat was uncontested in the previous election.
  4. ^ Seat was uncontested in the previous election.
  5. ^ Hunger replaced Johnson after the latter withdrew from the race after the primary due to health concerns.[5]
  6. ^ Seat was uncontested in the previous election.

References

  1. ^ Hancock, Laura. "Gov. Mike DeWine wants to postpone Ohio's Tuesday primary election till June 2 due to coronavirus".
  2. ^ Tobias, Andrew J. (March 25, 2020). "Ohio lawmakers sets all-mail primary election through April 28; legal challenge still possible". cleveland. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  4. ^ "2020 Official Elections Results - Ohio Secretary of State". www.sos.state.oh.us. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "New Ohio Senate District 22 candidate steps up". medina-gazette.com. Retrieved September 24, 2020.

External links

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