2018 United States Senate election in Ohio
2018 U.S Senate election in Ohio
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2018 United States Senate election in Ohio took place on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was February 7, 2018; the primary election was held on May 8, 2018.[1] Incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown—the only remaining elected Democratic statewide officeholder in Ohio at the time of the election—won his bid for a third term, defeating Republican U.S. Representative Jim Renacci by a 6.82% margin in the general election, larger than the 6% margin in the election six years earlier.[2][3] That was despite Republicans winning all statewide executive offices on the same ballot, and was one of ten Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state won by Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Renacci conceded defeat on November 7, 2018.
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November 6, 2018
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| Turnout | 55.79% (registered voters)  14.75pp | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Brown: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Renacci: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Tie: 50% No votes | |||||||||||||||||
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With Republican Mike DeWine winning the concurrent gubernatorial election, this was the first time since 1974 that Ohio simultaneously voted for a gubernatorial nominee and a U.S. Senate nominee of opposite parties. As of 2026, this is the last time the Democratic Party won a partisan statewide race in Ohio.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Sherrod Brown, incumbent U.S. senator[4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sherrod Brown (incumbent) | 613,373 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 613,373 | 100.00% | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jim Renacci, U.S. representative[6]
Eliminated in primary
Withdrawn
- Josh Mandel, Ohio State Treasurer and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012[12][13]
Declined
- Ken Blackwell, former mayor of Cincinnati, former Ohio State Treasurer, and former Ohio Secretary of State[14]
- Rick Jones, Butler County sheriff[15][16]
- John Kasich, governor of Ohio, former U.S. representative[17]
- Mary Taylor, lieutenant governor of Ohio (ran for governor)[15]
- Pat Tiberi, U.S. representative[18][19][20][21]
- Jim Tressel, president of Youngstown State University and former Ohio State football coach[22]
- JD Vance, author and venture capitalist[23][24][25][26]
Endorsements
Mike Gibbons
- U.S. senators
- Rand Paul, U.S. senator from Kentucky (2011–) and 2016 presidential candidate[27]
- Rob Portman, U.S. senator from Ohio (2011–2023)[27]
- Individuals
- Fred Dailey, former Ohio Agriculture Director[28]
- Doug Dieken[29]
- Wes Farno, former chair of the Auglaize County Republican Party[30]
- Charlie Frye, chair of the Ashtabula County Republican Party[31]
- Christopher Gagin, chair of the Belmont County Republican Party[32]
- Steve Hall, chair of the Coschocton County Republican Party[33]
- Larry Hardin, chair of the Morrow County Republican Party[33]
- Richard Jones, sheriff of Miami County[34]
- Thad Lichtensteiger, chair of the Van Wert County Republican Party[33]
- Bo Pelini, Youngstown State Penguins football coach, former Nebraska Cornhuskers football coach[35]
- Phil Plummer, sheriff of Montgomery County and chair of Montgomery County Republican Party[36]
- Rob Radway, chair of the Hardin County Republican Party[33]
- Ethan Reynolds, mayor of New Carlisle[37]
- Jim Roberts, chair of the Seneca County Republican Party[38]
- Carolyn Robey-Warren, president of Ohio Carry[39]
- State representatives
- Marilyn Reid (former)[40]
- Andy Thompson[41]
- State senators
- Randy Gardner (Majority Leader)[42]
- Frank Hoagland[43]
- Jay Hottinger[44]
- Matt Huffman[45]
- Joy Padgett (former), current chairwoman of Ohio Women for Trump[46]
- County commissioners
- Jeff Benton, Delaware County commissioner[47]
- Rodney Creech, Preble County commissioner[37]
- Mike Kerschner, Seneca County commissioner[48]
- Shayne Thomas, Seneca County commissioner[48]
- Jenny Vermillion, Crawford County commissioner[48]
- Doug Weisenauer, Crawford County commissioner[48]
- Organizations
- America's Liberty PAC[49]
- Citizens for Trump[50]
- Cuyahoga Valley Republicans[51]
- Ohio Carry[39]
- Right to Life Action Coalition of Ohio[52]
- Tea Party Express[53]
- County parties
- Clermont County Republican Party[54]
- Defiance County Republican Party[55]
- Franklin County Republican Party[56]
- Knox County Republican Party[57]
- Madison County Republican Party[58]
- Miami County Republican Party[59]
Josh Mandel (withdrawn)
- U.S. senators
- Tom Cotton, U.S. senator (R-AR)[60]
- Ted Cruz, U.S. senator (R-TX), and 2016 presidential candidate[61]
- Mike Lee, U.S. senator (R-UT)[62]
- Rob Portman, U.S. senator (R-OH)[63]
- Marco Rubio, U.S. senator (R-FL), and 2016 presidential candidate[64]
- Pat Toomey, U.S. senator (R-PA)[65]
- Individuals
- Mike Cernovich, conservative activist and writer[66]
- Jack Posobiec, conservative activist[66]
- Labor unions
- CPPA – Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association[67]
- Organizations
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Melissa Ackison |
Don Eckhart |
Mike Gibbons |
Dan Kiley |
Jim Renacci |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin Wallace University[73] | April 24 – May 2, 2018 | 323 | – | 4% | 1% | 11% | 4% | 25% | 55% |
| Fallon Research[74] | April 4–7, 2018 | 502 | ± 4.4% | 3% | 2% | 7% | 1% | 21% | 65% |
| OnMessage (R-Renacci)[75] | March 20, 2018 | – | – | 3% | 3% | 8% | 3% | 36% | 47% |
| SurveyUSA[76] | March 16–20, 2018 | 541 | ± 5.7% | 5% | 5% | 10% | 1% | 21% | 58% |
Hypothetical polling
with Josh Mandel
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Melissa Ackison |
Michael Gibbons |
Josh Mandel |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remington Research Group (R-Mandel)[77] | September 26–28, 2017 | 1,268 | ± 2.8% | 5% | 5% | 50% | 40% |
with Matt Huffman
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Matt Huffman |
Josh Mandel |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club for Growth[78] | December 11–12, 2016 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 8% | 62% | 30% |
with Pat Tiberi
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Josh Mandel |
Pat Tiberi |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club for Growth[78] | December 11–12, 2016 | 600 | ± ?% | 60% | 12% | 27% |
Results
Renacci
- 70–80%
- 60–70%
- 50–60%
- 40–50%
- <40%
Gibbons
- <40%
- 40–50%
- 50–60%
Ackison
- <40%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jim Renacci | 363,622 | 47.34% | |
| Republican | Mike Gibbons | 243,426 | 31.69% | |
| Republican | Melissa Ackison | 100,543 | 13.09% | |
| Republican | Dan Kiley | 30,684 | 3.99% | |
| Republican | Don Eckhart | 29,796 | 3.88% | |
| Write-in | 78 | 0.01% | ||
| Total votes | 768,149 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Candidates
Debates
- Complete video of debate, October 14, 2018
- Complete video of debate, October 20, 2018
- Complete video of debate, October 26, 2018
Endorsements
Sherrod Brown (D)
- U.S. executive branch officials
- Madeleine Albright, author and former U.S. Secretary of State[82]
- Joe Biden, 47th vice president of the United States[83]
- Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States[84]
- U.S. senators
- Cory Booker, New Jersey (2013-present)[85]
- Chris Coons, Delaware (2010-present)[86]
- Al Franken, former Minnesota (2009-2018)[87]
- Kamala Harris, California (2017-2021)[88]
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota (2007-present)[87]
- Patty Murray, Washington (1993-present)[89]
- Gary Peters, Michigan (2015-present)[90]
- Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts (2013-present)[91]
- U.S. representatives
- Joyce Beatty, U.S. representative (OH-03)[92]
- Statewide officials
- Justin Fairfax, lieutenant governor of Virginia (2018-2022)[93]
- Martin O'Malley, former governor of Maryland[94]
- Local officials
- Nan Whaley, mayor of Dayton (2014-2022)[95]
- Individuals
- John Legend, singer[96]
- Amy Schumer, actress[97]
- Labor unions
- National Education Association[98]
- Ohio State AFL–CIO[99]
- United Automobile Workers[100]
- United Mine Workers of America[101]
- Organizations
- Council for a Livable World[102]
- Democracy for America[103]
- End Citizens United[104]
- Feminist Majority Political Action Committee[105]
- Human Rights Campaign[106]
- J Street[107]
- League of Conservation Voters Action Fund[108]
- LegitAction[109]
- MoveOn.org[110]
- National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare[111]
- National Organization for Women[112]
- Natural Resources Defense Council[108]
- Ohio Society of CPAs[113]
- Ohio State Medical Association[114]
- Population Connection[115]
- Sierra Club[116]
- Students for Gun Legislation
Jim Renacci (R)
- U.S. executive branch officials
- Mike Pence, vice president of the United States[117]
- Donald Trump, president of the United States[118]
- U.S. senators
- Rob Portman, U.S. senator (R-OH)[119]
- Statewide office holders
- Josh Mandel, Ohio treasurer[120]
- Mary Taylor, lieutenant governor of Ohio[121]
- State representatives
- Steve Hambley
- U.S. representatives
- Steve Chabot (OH-1)[122]
- Warren Davidson (OH-8)[122]
- Bob Gibbs (OH-7)[122]
- Bill Johnson (OH-6)[122]
- Jim Jordan (OH-4)[122]
- David Joyce (OH-14)[122]
- Bob Latta (OH-5)[122]
- Steve Stivers (OH-15)[122]
- Mike Turner (OH-10)[122]
- Brad Wenstrup (OH-2)[122]
- Mayors
- Individuals
- Anthony Scaramucci, former White House Communications Director
- Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of U.S. President Donald Trump[124]
- Eric Trump, businessman and son of U.S. President Donald Trump[125]
- County parties
- Brown County Republican Party[126]
- Cuyahoga County Republican Party[127]
- Fulton County Republican Party[128]
- Lake County Republican Party[129]
- Preble County Republican Party[130]
- Summit County Republican Party[131]
- Organizations
- Business-Industry Political Action Committee[132]
- Cuyahoga Valley Republicans[133]
- National Federation of Independent Business[134]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[135]
- Ohio Black Republican Association[136]
- Ohio Right to Life[137]
- Ohio Society of CPAs[113]
- Ohioans for Concealed Carry[138]
- Students for Trump[139]
- State parties
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[141] | Likely D | October 26, 2018 |
| Inside Elections[142] | Safe D | November 1, 2018 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[143] | Likely D | November 5, 2018 |
| Fox News[144][a] | Likely D | November 5, 2018 |
| CNN[145] | Likely D | November 5, 2018 |
| RealClearPolitics[146] | Lean D | November 5, 2018 |
| FiveThirtyEight[147] | Safe D | November 6, 2018 |
- Notes
- The Fox News Midterm Power Rankings uniquely does not contain a category for Safe/Solid races
Polling
View source data.
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Sherrod Brown (D) |
Jim Renacci (R) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Change Research[148] | November 2–4, 2018 | 923 | – | 53% | 43% | – | – |
| Research Co.[149] | November 1–3, 2018 | 450 | ± 4.6% | 53% | 39% | – | 8% |
| Cygnal (R)[150] | October 30–31, 2018 | 503 | ± 4.4% | 52% | 42% | – | 6% |
| Gravis Marketing[151] | October 29–30, 2018 | 789 | ± 3.5% | 46% | 37% | – | 17% |
| Emerson College[152] | October 26–28, 2018 | 566 | ± 4.3% | 49% | 43% | 2%[153] | 6% |
| Baldwin Wallace University[154] | October 19–27, 2018 | 1,051 | ± 3.8% | 51% | 32% | – | 17% |
| Suffolk University[155] | October 4–8, 2018 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 54% | 36% | 0%[156] | 10% |
| Baldwin Wallace University[157] | September 8 – October 8, 2018 | 1,017 | ± 3.5% | 50% | 33% | – | 18% |
| University of Akron[158] | September 10 – October 4, 2018 | 1,000 | ± 3.0% | 43% | 31% | – | 26% |
| Ipsos[159] | September 13–21, 2018 | 1,074 | ± 3.0% | 50% | 39% | 2% | 9% |
| Triton Polling & Research (R)[160] | September 18–20, 2018 | 1,003 | ± 3.1% | 53% | 42% | – | 5% |
| NBC News/Marist[161] | September 16–20, 2018 | 564 LV | ± 5.0% | 49% | 35% | 7%[162] | 8% |
| 52% | 39% | 1% | 7% | ||||
| 796 RV | ± 4.2% | 49% | 33% | 10%[163] | 9% | ||
| 52% | 39% | 1% | 8% | ||||
| Baldwin Wallace University[164] | September 5–15, 2018 | 1,048 | ± 3.6% | 49% | 32% | – | 19% |
| Morning Consult[165] | September 2–11, 2018 | 1,592 | ± 2.0% | 47% | 31% | – | 22% |
| Change Research (D-Innovation Ohio)[166] | August 31 – September 4, 2018 | 822 | ± 3.0% | 46% | 42% | – | 12% |
| TRZ Communications (R-WTPC)[167] | June 30 – July 10, 2018 | 1,485 | ± 3.0% | 45% | 41% | – | 14% |
| SurveyMonkey/Axios[168] | June 11 – July 2, 2018 | 951 | ± 5.0% | 52% | 44% | – | 4% |
| NBC News/Marist[169] | June 17–22, 2018 | 778 | ± 4.4% | 51% | 38% | 1% | 10% |
| Quinnipiac University[170] | June 7–12, 2018 | 1,082 | ± 3.7% | 51% | 34% | 1% | 12% |
| Suffolk University[171] | June 6–11, 2018 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 53% | 37% | 2% | 8% |
| America First Action (R)[172] | May 29–31, 2018 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 45% | 41% | – | 10% |
| Fallon Research[173] | May 21–25, 2018 | 800 | ± 3.5% | 48% | 34% | 3%[174] | 15% |
| Grassroots Targeting (R-Ohio First)[175] | April 2018 | 1,266 | – | 41% | 40% | – | 19% |
| SurveyUSA[76] | March 16–20, 2018 | 1,408 | ± 3.5% | 52% | 38% | – | 11% |
| Baldwin Wallace University[176] | February 28 – March 9, 2018 | 1,011 | ± 3.0% | 41% | 29% | – | 30% |
| SurveyMonkey/Axios[177] | February 12 – March 5, 2018 | 1,995 | ± 3.6% | 50% | 45% | – | 5% |
| Grassroots Targeting (R-Ohio First)[175] | February 2018 | – | – | 43% | 38% | – | 19% |
Hypothetical polling
with Mike Gibbons
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Sherrod Brown (D) |
Mike Gibbons (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SurveyUSA[76] | March 16–20, 2018 | 1,408 | ± 3.5% | 52% | 38% | 10% |
| Baldwin Wallace University[176] | February 28 – March 9, 2018 | 1,011 | ± 3.0% | 41% | 31% | 28% |
with Melissa Ackison
with Don Eckhart
with Dan Kiley
with Pat Tiberi
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Sherrod Brown (D) |
Pat Tiberi (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gravis Marketing[178] | April 27 – May 2, 2017 | 1,352 | ± 2.7% | 43% | 41% | 16% |
with Josh Mandel
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Sherrod Brown (D) |
Josh Mandel (R) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luntz Global[179] | June 12, 2017 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 53% | 34% | 13% |
| Gravis Marketing[178] | April 27 – May 2, 2017 | 1,352 | ± 2.7% | 42% | 45% | 13% |
| WPA Opinion Research (R)[180] | November 29 – December 1, 2016 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 39% | 40% | 21% |
| Public Policy Polling[181] | July 22–24, 2016 | 1,334 | ± 2.7% | 45% | 36% | 18% |
| Public Policy Polling[182] | April 26–27, 2016 | 799 | ± 3.2% | 47% | 33% | 21% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sherrod Brown (incumbent) | 2,358,508 | 53.40% | +2.70% | |
| Republican | Jim Renacci | 2,057,559 | 46.58% | +1.88% | |
| Write-in | 1,017 | 0.02% | N/A | ||
| Total votes | 4,417,084 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
By county
| County | Sherrod Brown Democratic |
Jim Renacci Republican |
Write In Other parties |
Margin | Total votes cast | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 2,635 | 30.49% | 6,000 | 69.42% | 8 | 0.09% | -3,365 | -38.93% | 8,643 |
| Allen | 14,429 | 40.16% | 21,492 | 59.82% | 8 | 0.02% | -7,063 | -19.66% | 35,929 |
| Ashland | 6,472 | 34.94% | 12,048 | 65.04% | 3 | 0.02% | -5,576 | -30.10% | 18,523 |
| Ashtabula | 16,473 | 51.05% | 15,794 | 48.95% | 0 | 0.00% | 679 | 2.10% | 32,267 |
| Athens | 15,472 | 68.45% | 7,126 | 31.53% | 4 | 0.02% | 8,346 | 36.92% | 22,602 |
| Auglaize | 5,557 | 29.00% | 13,603 | 70.99% | 1 | 0.01% | -8,046 | -41.99% | 19,161 |
| Belmont | 11,603 | 46.84% | 13,159 | 53.13% | 7 | 0.03% | -1,556 | -6.29% | 24,769 |
| Brown | 4,651 | 31.35% | 10,184 | 68.63% | 3 | 0.02% | -5,533 | -37.28% | 14,838 |
| Butler | 55,604 | 40.96% | 80,106 | 59.02% | 26 | 0.02% | -24,502 | -18.06% | 135,736 |
| Carroll | 3,788 | 36.80% | 6,503 | 63.18% | 2 | 0.02% | -2,715 | -26.38% | 10,293 |
| Champaign | 5,443 | 36.74% | 9,372 | 63.26% | 0 | 0.00% | -3,929 | -26.52% | 14,815 |
| Clark | 23,525 | 49.03% | 24,446 | 50.95% | 9 | 0.02% | -921 | -1.92% | 47,980 |
| Clermont | 27,803 | 34.87% | 51,918 | 65.12% | 9 | 0.01% | -24,115 | -30.25% | 79,730 |
| Clinton | 4,645 | 30.96% | 10,356 | 69.03% | 1 | 0.01% | -5,711 | -38.07% | 15,002 |
| Columbiana | 13,995 | 39.04% | 21,849 | 60.95% | 3 | 0.01% | -7,854 | -21.91% | 35,847 |
| Coshocton | 4,680 | 39.51% | 7,163 | 60.48% | 1 | 0.01% | -2,483 | -20.97% | 11,844 |
| Crawford | 5,345 | 36.87% | 9,149 | 63.11% | 2 | 0.01% | -3,804 | -26.24% | 14,496 |
| Cuyahoga | 350,362 | 72.48% | 132,948 | 27.50% | 54 | 0.01% | 217,414 | 44.98% | 483,364 |
| Darke | 5,569 | 28.57% | 13,921 | 71.42% | 2 | 0.01% | -8,352 | -42.85% | 19,492 |
| Defiance | 5,812 | 42.05% | 8,003 | 57.91% | 5 | 0.04% | -2,191 | -15.86% | 13,820 |
| Delaware | 44,743 | 47.43% | 49,587 | 52.56% | 6 | 0.01% | -4,844 | -5.13% | 94,336 |
| Erie | 16,659 | 54.98% | 13,633 | 45.00% | 6 | 0.02% | 3,026 | 9.98% | 30,298 |
| Fairfield | 26,518 | 44.76% | 32,707 | 55.21% | 21 | 0.04% | -6,189 | -10.45% | 59,246 |
| Fayette | 2,914 | 34.36% | 5,566 | 65.63% | 1 | 0.01% | -2,652 | -31.27% | 8,481 |
| Franklin | 332,825 | 68.69% | 151,588 | 31.29% | 96 | 0.02% | 181,237 | 37.40% | 484,509 |
| Fulton | 6,707 | 41.49% | 9,454 | 58.49% | 3 | 0.02% | -2,747 | -17.00% | 16,164 |
| Gallia | 3,355 | 34.84% | 6,275 | 65.16% | 0 | 0.00% | -2,920 | -30.32% | 9,630 |
| Geauga | 19,104 | 44.94% | 23,397 | 55.04% | 6 | 0.01% | -4,293 | -10.10% | 42,507 |
| Greene | 30,243 | 44.23% | 38,102 | 55.72% | 32 | 0.05% | -7,859 | -11.49% | 68,377 |
| Guernsey | 5,014 | 39.97% | 7,529 | 60.02% | 2 | 0.02% | -2,515 | -20.05% | 12,545 |
| Hamilton | 200,404 | 59.34% | 137,116 | 40.60% | 193 | 0.06% | 63,288 | 18.74% | 337,713 |
| Hancock | 10,929 | 38.95% | 17,123 | 61.02% | 9 | 0.03% | -6,194 | -22.07% | 28,061 |
| Hardin | 3,497 | 37.19% | 5,899 | 62.74% | 6 | 0.06% | -2,402 | -25.55% | 9,402 |
| Harrison | 2,480 | 42.70% | 3,327 | 57.28% | 1 | 0.02% | -847 | -14.58% | 5,808 |
| Henry | 4,468 | 42.24% | 6,109 | 57.76% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,641 | -15.52% | 10,577 |
| Highland | 3,939 | 29.25% | 9,526 | 70.75% | 0 | 0.00% | -5,587 | -41.50% | 13,465 |
| Hocking | 4,408 | 44.60% | 5,474 | 55.39% | 1 | 0.01% | -1,066 | -10.79% | 9,883 |
| Holmes | 2,059 | 23.35% | 6,755 | 76.61% | 3 | 0.03% | -4,696 | -53.26% | 8,817 |
| Huron | 8,274 | 44.02% | 10,522 | 55.98% | 0 | 0.00% | -2,248 | -11.96% | 18,796 |
| Jackson | 3,815 | 37.88% | 6,255 | 62.12% | 0 | 0.00% | -2,440 | -24.24% | 10,070 |
| Jefferson | 11,376 | 46.32% | 13,180 | 53.66% | 6 | 0.02% | -1,804 | -7.34% | 24,562 |
| Knox | 8,413 | 37.05% | 14,290 | 62.93% | 4 | 0.02% | -5,877 | -25.88% | 22,707 |
| Lake | 49,276 | 52.08% | 45,313 | 47.90% | 18 | 0.02% | 3,963 | 4.18% | 94,607 |
| Lawrence | 8,064 | 39.61% | 12,292 | 60.37% | 4 | 0.02% | -4,228 | -20.76% | 20,360 |
| Licking | 29,469 | 42.94% | 39,142 | 57.04% | 11 | 0.02% | -9,673 | -14.10% | 68,622 |
| Logan | 5,235 | 31.77% | 11,243 | 68.23% | 1 | 0.01% | -6,008 | -36.46% | 16,479 |
| Lorain | 67,452 | 59.23% | 46,403 | 40.75% | 21 | 0.02% | 21,049 | 18.48% | 113,876 |
| Lucas | 100,807 | 66.74% | 50,223 | 33.25% | 18 | 0.01% | 50,584 | 33.49% | 151,048 |
| Madison | 5,116 | 37.25% | 8,617 | 62.74% | 1 | 0.01% | -3,501 | -25.49% | 13,734 |
| Mahoning | 54,594 | 60.49% | 35,654 | 39.50% | 8 | 0.01% | 18,940 | 20.99% | 90,256 |
| Marion | 8,677 | 42.23% | 11,850 | 57.68% | 19 | 0.09% | -3,173 | -15.45% | 20,546 |
| Medina | 34,493 | 46.00% | 40,478 | 53.98% | 15 | 0.02% | -5,985 | -7.98% | 74,986 |
| Meigs | 2,898 | 37.04% | 4,926 | 62.95% | 1 | 0.01% | -2,028 | -25.91% | 7,825 |
| Mercer | 4,504 | 26.27% | 12,637 | 73.72% | 2 | 0.01% | -8,133 | -47.45% | 17,143 |
| Miami | 14,649 | 35.33% | 26,815 | 64.66% | 5 | 0.01% | -12,166 | -29.33% | 41,469 |
| Monroe | 2,518 | 47.66% | 2,765 | 52.34% | 0 | 0.00% | -247 | -4.68% | 5,283 |
| Montgomery | 115,200 | 56.06% | 90,242 | 43.92% | 40 | 0.02% | 24,958 | 12.14% | 205,482 |
| Morgan | 2,115 | 42.04% | 2,916 | 57.96% | 0 | 0.00% | -801 | -15.92% | 5,031 |
| Morrow | 4,361 | 33.23% | 8,761 | 66.76% | 1 | 0.01% | -4,400 | -33.53% | 13,123 |
| Muskingum | 12,395 | 42.88% | 16,504 | 57.10% | 4 | 0.01% | -4,109 | -14.22% | 28,903 |
| Noble | 1,709 | 36.62% | 2,958 | 63.38% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,249 | -26.76% | 4,667 |
| Ottawa | 9,477 | 51.85% | 8,799 | 48.14% | 3 | 0.02% | 678 | 3.71% | 18,279 |
| Paulding | 2,232 | 32.40% | 4,656 | 67.59% | 1 | 0.01% | -2,424 | -35.19% | 6,889 |
| Perry | 4,599 | 40.01% | 6,895 | 59.98% | 1 | 0.01% | -2,296 | -19.97% | 11,495 |
| Pickaway | 7,481 | 37.81% | 12,302 | 62.18% | 2 | 0.01% | -4,821 | -24.37% | 19,785 |
| Pike | 3,900 | 44.33% | 4,897 | 55.67% | 0 | 0.00% | -997 | -11.34% | 8,797 |
| Portage | 32,303 | 53.34% | 28,231 | 46.62% | 22 | 0.04% | 4,072 | 6.72% | 60,556 |
| Preble | 4,942 | 31.31% | 10,838 | 68.66% | 4 | 0.03% | -5,896 | -37.35% | 15,784 |
| Putnam | 4,369 | 29.56% | 10,408 | 70.41% | 4 | 0.03% | -6,039 | -40.85% | 14,781 |
| Richland | 17,984 | 40.41% | 26,499 | 59.55% | 16 | 0.04% | -8,515 | -19.14% | 44,499 |
| Ross | 10,602 | 45.42% | 12,738 | 54.57% | 2 | 0.01% | -2,136 | -9.15% | 23,342 |
| Sandusky | 10,987 | 49.65% | 11,141 | 50.34% | 2 | 0.01% | -154 | -0.69% | 22,130 |
| Scioto | 10,627 | 44.95% | 13,014 | 55.05% | 0 | 0.00% | -2,387 | -10.10% | 23,641 |
| Seneca | 8,741 | 46.76% | 9,945 | 53.20% | 6 | 0.03% | -1,204 | -6.44% | 18,692 |
| Shelby | 5,183 | 27.84% | 13,433 | 72.16% | 0 | 0.00% | -8,250 | -44.32% | 18,616 |
| Stark | 68,526 | 49.24% | 70,588 | 50.72% | 49 | 0.04% | -2,062 | -1.48% | 139,163 |
| Summit | 129,479 | 60.86% | 83,149 | 39.08% | 117 | 0.05% | 46,330 | 21.78% | 212,745 |
| Trumbull | 43,381 | 57.93% | 31,482 | 42.04% | 19 | 0.03% | 11,899 | 15.89% | 74,882 |
| Tuscarawas | 14,088 | 43.57% | 18,244 | 56.42% | 3 | 0.01% | -4,156 | -12.85% | 32,335 |
| Union | 8,964 | 37.81% | 14,747 | 62.19% | 0 | 0.00% | -5,783 | -24.38% | 23,711 |
| Van Wert | 3,020 | 28.12% | 7,721 | 71.88% | 0 | 0.00% | -4,701 | -43.76% | 10,741 |
| Vinton | 1,641 | 39.95% | 2,467 | 60.05% | 0 | 0.00% | -826 | -20.10% | 4,108 |
| Warren | 35,815 | 35.96% | 63,757 | 64.02% | 20 | 0.02% | -27,942 | -28.06% | 99,592 |
| Washington | 9,259 | 39.96% | 13,908 | 60.03% | 3 | 0.01% | -4,649 | -20.07% | 23,170 |
| Wayne | 15,495 | 38.90% | 24,324 | 61.07% | 11 | 0.03% | -8,829 | -22.17% | 39,830 |
| Williams | 5,272 | 39.94% | 7,927 | 60.05% | 1 | 0.01% | -2,655 | -20.11% | 13,200 |
| Wood | 27,540 | 55.45% | 22,105 | 44.51% | 18 | 0.04% | 5,435 | 10.94% | 49,663 |
| Wyandot | 3,062 | 37.74% | 5,051 | 62.26% | 0 | 0.00% | -1,989 | -24.52% | 8,113 |
| Totals | 2,358,508 | 53.40% | 2,057,559 | 46.58% | 1,017 | 0.02% | 300,949 | 6.82% | 4,417,084 |
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican
- Pike (largest city: Waverly)
- Ross (largest city: Chillicothe)
- Scioto (largest city: Portsmouth)
- Belmont (largest city: Martins Ferry)
- Jefferson (largest city: Steubenville)
- Sandusky (largest city: Fremont)
- Clark (largest municipality: Springfield)
- Stark (largest city: Canton)
- Monroe (largest city: Woodsfield)
By congressional district
Brown won nine of 16 congressional districts, including five that elected Republicans to the House.[186]
| District | Brown | Renacci | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 51% | 49% | Steve Chabot |
| 2nd | 48% | 52% | Brad Wenstrup |
| 3rd | 75% | 25% | Joyce Beatty |
| 4th | 43% | 57% | Jim Jordan |
| 5th | 47% | 53% | Bob Latta |
| 6th | 41% | 59% | Bill Johnson |
| 7th | 44% | 56% | Bob Gibbs |
| 8th | 39% | 61% | Warren Davidson |
| 9th | 68% | 32% | Marcy Kaptur |
| 10th | 53% | 47% | Mike Turner |
| 11th | 84% | 16% | Marcia Fudge |
| 12th | 51% | 49% | Troy Balderson |
| 13th | 62% | 38% | Tim Ryan |
| 14th | 53% | 47% | Dave Joyce |
| 15th | 51% | 49% | Steve Stivers |
| 16th | 49.6% | 50.4% | Jim Renacci (115th Congress) |
| Anthony Gonzalez (116th Congress) |
Analysis
The election was not particularly close, with Brown winning by 6.82%. Brown was the only Democrat who won statewide in Ohio in this election cycle. He was able to win re-election by winning back most of the Rust Belt, which swung Republican in 2016. Brown did well in Portage County, Summit County, and Trumbull County, all very heavily pro-union counties. Brown also did well in the rust belt from Lucas County, home of Toledo, all the way to Cuyahoga County, home of Cleveland. Brown also trounced Renacci in Franklin County and Hamilton County, home of Columbus and Cincinnati respectively; the latter, Hamilton County, was once considered a Republican stronghold. Renacci, while performing well in most rural areas of the state, underperformed Mike DeWine, the Republican Party's nominee and eventual winner for governor.
Regardless, Renacci somewhat overperformed in comparison to most polling before the election, while Brown lost in several counties he had won in his previous Senate races. In particular, Brown lost ground in Appalachia compared to his 2012 run, losing the Appalachian counties of Jefferson, Belmont, Monroe, Ross, Pike, and Scioto counties. This was in line with the region's shift towards the Republican Party, as evident by Obama's inability to win these counties in his 2012 bid for the presidency of the United States, Strickland's inability to win these counties in his 2016 bid for United States Senate (despite having previously represented Appalachia in the United States House of Representatives), and Clinton's underperformance in Appalachia in her 2016 bid for the presidency of the United States relative to previous Democrats. Exit polls also show Brown had a very strong showing among minority and women voters, which was key to his victory. Brown was sworn in for a third term as the senior senator from Ohio on January 3, 2019.