The 2016 United States Senate election in Ohio was held on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Ohio, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. The close of registration for electors in the primary election was December 16, 2015, and the primary election took place on March 15, 2016. Incumbent Republican U.S. senator Rob Portman faced former Democratic governor Ted Strickland. Green Party nominee Joseph DeMare was also on the ballot, along with two other independent candidates and one officially declared write-in candidate.
Initially, the seat was viewed by many to be a potential Democratic pickup, with some early polls showing Strickland ahead, but Portman attained a lead in the summer which grew through the duration of the campaign, and ultimately won re-election to a second term in a landslide, winning 58% of the vote. His vote total of 3,118,567 is the second largest in the state's history, falling 346,084 votes short of George Voinovich's record set in his 2004 re-election. Despite expanding his margin of victory, he lost Franklin County, a county he won in 2010 and home to the state's capital and largest city Columbus, signaling a long-term shift of this historically competitive county in Ohio elections.
Republican primary
Republican senator Rob Portman ran for re-election to a second term in office. He considered running for president in 2016,Bernstein, Jonathan (August 26, 2014) "Everybody's Running (Rob Portman Edition)", Bloomberg View. Retrieved August 26, 2014.Torry, Jack (August 26, 2014) "2016 preview?: Ohio Sen. Portman visits New Hampshire" , Dayton Daily News. Retrieved August 26, 2014. but ruled out running for two offices at the same time, even though Ohio law does allow it.Conroy, Scott (August 26, 2014) "Portman Won't Run for Two Offices Simultaneously in 2016", RealClearPolitics. Retrieved August 26, 2014. He ultimately declined to run for president. The National Organization for Marriage and other socially conservative groups, unhappy with Portman's public backing for same-sex marriage, pledged to back a primary challenger. Tea Party groups, who heavily backed Portman in 2010, said that they were unlikely to do the same if he runs for re-election.
Candidates Declared Don Elijah Eckhart, independent candidate for OH-15 in 2008 Rob Portman, incumbent U.S. senator (2011-2023)
Disqualified Melissa Strzala, Tea Party activist (failed to gather enough valid signatures)
Declined Josh Mandel, Ohio state treasurer (2011-2019) and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012 Steve Stivers, U.S. representative of Ohio's 15th congressional district (2011-2021)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Don ElijahEckhart RobPortman UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling March 4–6, 2016 638 ± 3.9% 7% 60% 33%
Poll source KenBlackwell RobPortman UndecidedPublic Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 4–7, 2015 411 ± 4.8% 24% 57% 20%
Results
Democratic primary
Candidates Declared Kelli Prather, occupational therapist and community organizer P.G. Sittenfeld, Cincinnati city councilman (2011-2022) Ted Strickland, former governor of Ohio (2007-2011) and former U.S. representative of Ohio's 6th congressional district (1993-1995, 1997-2007)
Withdrawn Bob Hagan, former member of the Ohio State Board of Education (2014-2015), former state senator from the 33rd district (1987-1997, 2007-2014) and former state representative from the 58th district (1997-2006)
Declined Joyce Beatty, U.S. representative of Ohio's 3rd congressional district (2013-present) and former state representative from the 27th district (1999-2008) John Boccieri, state representative from the 59th district (2015-2018), former U.S. representative of Ohio's 16th congressional district (2009-2011) and former state senator from the 33rd district (2007-2008) Jennifer Brunner, judge on the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals (2015-2021), former Ohio Secretary of State (2007-2011) and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 Michael B. Coleman, mayor of Columbus (2000-2016) Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2012-2017), former attorney general of Ohio (2009-2011) and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2000 Connie Pillich, former state representative of the 28th district (2009-2014) and nominee for Ohio state treasurer in 2014 Tim Ryan, U.S. representative of Ohio's 13th congressional district (2003-2023) Betty Sutton, administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (2013-2017) and former U.S. representative of Ohio's 13th congressional district (2007-2013) Nina Turner, former state senator of the 25th district (2008-2014) and nominee for Ohio Secretary of State in 2014 Nan Whaley, mayor of Dayton (2014-2022)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror KelliPrather P.G.Sittenfeld TedStrickland UndecidedPublic Policy Polling March 4–6, 2016 508 ± 4.4% 6% 16% 50% 28%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling January 12–14, 2016 1,138 ± ? 10% 10% 61% 18%Public Policy Polling June 4–7, 2015 360 ± 5.2% — 13% 65% 22%
Results
Green primary Candidates Declared Joe DeMare, factory worker and environmentalist
Results
General election Candidates Tom Connors (I) Joe DeMare (G), factory worker and environmentalist Rob Portman (R), incumbent senator Scott Rupert (I), truck driver and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 James Stahl (write-in) Ted Strickland (D), former governor of Ohio and former U.S. representative
Endorsements
Debates Dates Location Portman Strickland LinkOctober 14, 2016Youngstown, OhioParticipantParticipantFull debate - C-SPANOctober 17, 2016Columbus, OhioParticipantParticipantFull debate - C-SPANOctober 20, 2016Cleveland, OhioParticipantParticipantFull debate - C-SPAN
Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 2, 2016 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2016 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2016 Daily Kos November 8, 2016 Real Clear Politics November 7, 2016
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror RobPortman (R) TedStrickland (D) Other UndecidedSurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey November 1–7, 2016 2,860 ± 4.6% 57% 39% — 4%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey Oct 31–Nov 6, 2016 2,530 ± 4.6% 57% 39% — 4%Emerson CollegeEmerson College November 4–5, 2016 900 ± 3.2% 49% 28% 11% 12%The Columbus DispatchThe Columbus Dispatch Oct 27–Nov 5, 2016 1,151 ± 2.9% 58% 37% — 5%CBS News/YouGovCBS News/YouGov November 2–4, 2016 1,189 ± 4.1% 52% 39% 3% 6%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey Oct 28–Nov 3, 2016 2,004 ± 4.6% 58% 39% — 3%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey Oct 27–Nov 2, 2016 1,728 ± 4.6% 57% 40% — 3%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University Oct 27–Nov 1, 2016 589 ± 4.0% 56% 38% — 6%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey Oct 26–Nov 1, 2016 1,586 ± 4.6% 57% 39% — 4%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 25–31, 2016 1,823 ± 4.6% 55% 40% — 5%Emerson CollegeEmerson College October 26–27, 2016 800 ± 3.4% 49% 35% 4% 12%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University October 17–19, 2016 500 ± 4.4% 46% 31% 6% 14%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University October 10–16, 2016 624 ± 3.9% 54% 41% 1% 4%Washington Post/SurveyMonkeyWashington Post/SurveyMonkey October 8–16, 2016 1,307 ± 0.5% 56% 39% — 5%CNN/ORCCNN/ORC October 10–15, 2016 774 LV ± 3.5% 56% 40% — 2% 890 RV 55% 40% — 2%NBC/WSJ/MaristNBC/WSJ/Marist October 10–12, 2016 724 LV ± 3.6% 55% 37% 3% 5% 1,007 RV ± 3.1% 54% 36% 3% 6%Emerson CollegeEmerson College October 10–12, 2016 600 ± 3.9% 47% 30% 6% 16%Baldwin Wallace UniversityBaldwin Wallace University October 9–11, 2016 1,152 ± 3.0% 48% 36% — 16%The Times-Picayune/LucidThe Times-Picayune/Lucid October 7–10, 2016 1,304 ± 3.0% 51% 37% — 12%CBS News/YouGovCBS News/YouGov October 5–7, 2016 997 ± 3.9% 49% 38% 2% 10%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling October 5–6, 2016 782 ± 3.5% 51% 36% — 12%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University October 1–4, 2016 405 ± 4.9% 54% 39% 2% 5%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University Sept 27–Oct 2, 2016 497 ± 4.4% 55% 38% — 7%Anzalone Liszt Grove ResearchAnzalone Liszt Grove Research Sept 27–Oct 2, 2016 800 ± 4.0% 51% 39% 5% 5%Breitbart/Gravis MarketingBreitbart/Gravis Marketing September 22–23, 2016 850 ± 3.4% 44% 36% — 20%TargetSmart/William & MaryTargetSmart/William & Mary September 15–22, 2016 652 LV ± 3.4% 47% 32% 4% 17% 821 RV 44% 34% 4% 18%FOX NewsFOX News September 18–20, 2016 737 LV ± 3.5% 51% 37% 1% 10% 806 RV 50% 37% 1% 10%Greenberg Quinlan Rosner - Democracy CorpsGreenberg Quinlan Rosner - Democracy Corps September 10–19, 2016 400 ± 4.0% 51% 34% 4% 11%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University September 12–14, 2016 500 ± 4.4% 39% 31% 5% 23%CNN/ORCCNN/ORC September 7–12, 2016 769 LV ± 3.0% 58% 37% — 5% 895 RV 56% 38% — 5%Bloomberg/SelzerBloomberg/Selzer September 9–12, 2016 802 ± 3.5% 53% 36% 3% 7%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University Aug 29–Sept 7, 2016 775 ± 3.5% 51% 40% 1% 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling August 26–27, 2016 1,134 ± 3.0% 48% 39% — 13%Emerson CollegeEmerson College August 25–27, 2016 800 ± 3.4% 40% 25% 10% 25%Monmouth UniversityMonmouth University August 18–21, 2016 402 ± 4.9% 48% 40% 4% 8%CBS News/YouGovCBS News/YouGov August 17–19, 2016 997 ± 3.9% 46% 39% 4% 11%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University July 30–August 7, 2016 812 ± 3.4% 49% 40% 1% 10%NBC/WSJ/MaristNBC/WSJ/Marist August 3–7, 2016 889 ± 3.3% 48% 43% 1% 8%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling July 22–24, 2016 1,334 ± 2.7% 43% 38% — 19%Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University July 18–20, 2016 500 ± 4.4% 37% 33% 6% 23%CBS News/YouGovCBS News/YouGov July 13–15, 2016 1,104 ± 3.5% 41% 40% 4% 14%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University June 30–July 11, 2016 955 ± 3.2% 47% 40% 1% 9%NBC/WSJ/MaristNBC/WSJ/Marist July 5–10, 2016 848 ± 3.4% 44% 44% 2% 10%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 22–23, 2016 708 ± 3.7% 40% 39% — 21%Greenberg Quinlan Rosner - Democracy CorpsGreenberg Quinlan Rosner - Democracy Corps June 11–20, 2016 300 ± 5.7% 40% 43% — 17%Quinnipiac University June 8–19, 2016 971 ± 3.1% 42% 42% 1% 11%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling June 8–9, 2016 781 ± 3.4% 46% 42% — 12%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University April 27–May 8, 2016 1,042 ± 3.0% 42% 43% 1% 14%Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling April 26–27, 2016 799 ± 3.2% 38% 38% 1% 23%Hart Research AssociatesHart Research Associates April 5–7, 2016 500 ± 3.2% 47% 45% — 8%Public Policy Polling March 4–6, 2016 1,248 ± 2.8% 40% 41% — 19%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University February 16–20, 2016 1,539 ± 2.5% 42% 44% — 14%Baldwin Wallace UniversityBaldwin Wallace University February 11–20, 2016 825 ± 3.4% 44% 40% — 16%Democracy CorpsDemocracy Corps October 24–28, 2015 400 ± 4.9% 47% 47% — 6%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University Sept 25–Oct 5, 2015 1,180 ± 2.9% 43% 46% 1% 8%Harstad Strategic ResearchHarstad Strategic Research September 10–16, 2015 813 ± 3.4% 43% 46% — 11%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University August 7–18, 2015 1,096 ± 3.0% 41% 44% 1% 10%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University June 4–15, 2015 1,191 ± 2.8% 40% 46% 1% 13%Public Policy Polling June 4–7, 2015 859 ± 3.3% 43% 41% — 15%Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University March 17–28, 2015 1,077 ± 3.0% 39% 48% — 13%Public Policy Polling (D-Ohio Democratic Party)Public Policy Polling (D-Ohio Democratic Party) March 2–3, 2015 946 ± 3.2% 45% 45% — 10%