2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio

The 2008 congressional elections in Ohio were held on November 4, 2008 and determined who will represent the state of Ohio in the United States House of Representatives. The primary election was held on March 4, 2008.

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio
November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)
All 18 Ohio seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 7 11
Seats won 10 8
Seat change 3 3
Popular vote 2,752,111 2,491,498
Percentage 51.21% 46.36%
Swing 1.34% 0.86%
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Ohio has eighteen seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected in November 2008 served in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Districts 1, 15 and 16 changed party (from Republican to Democratic), although CQ Politics had forecasted districts 1, 2, 14, 15, 16 and 18 to be at some risk for the incumbent party. District 15 was not decided until December 8, 2008.[1] As of 2021, this is the last time that Democrats won a majority of congressional districts from Ohio.

Overview
United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2008[2]
Party Votes Percentage Seats Before Seats After +/–
Democratic 2,752,111 51.21% 7 10 +3
Republican 2,491,498 46.36% 11 8 -3
Libertarian 44,902 0.84% 0 0 -
Green 13,812 0.26% 0 0 -
Independent 72,017 1.34% 0 0 -
Totals 5,374,340 100% 18 18 —

Match-up summary
District Incumbent 2008 Status Democratic Republican Green Libertarian Ind Ind Ind
1 Steve Chabot Re-election Steve Driehaus Steve Chabot Rich Stevenson (WI) Eric Wilson (WI)
2 Jean Schmidt Re-election Victoria Wulsin Jean Schmidt David Krikorian James Condit (WI)
3 Mike Turner Re-election Jane Mitakides Mike Turner
4 Jim Jordan Re-election Mike Carroll Jim Jordan
5 Bob Latta Re-election George Mays Bob Latta
6 Charlie Wilson Re-election Charlie Wilson Richard Stobbs Dennis Spisak
7 David Hobson Open Sharen Neuhardt Steve Austria
8 John Boehner Re-election Nicholas Von Stein John Boehner
9 Marcy Kaptur Re-election Marcy Kaptur Bradley Leavitt
10 Dennis Kucinich Re-election Dennis Kucinich Jim Trakas Paul Conroy
11 Marcia L. Fudge Re-election Marcia L. Fudge Thomas Pekarek Craig Willis (WI) Eric Johnson (WI) Robert Reed (WI)
12 Pat Tiberi Re-election David Robinson Pat Tiberi Steve Linnabary
13 Betty Sutton Re-election Betty Sutton David Potter Robert Crow (WI)
14 Steve LaTourette Re-election Bill O'Neill Steve LaTourette David Macko
15 Deborah Pryce Open Mary Jo Kilroy Steve Stivers Mark M. Noble Don Elijah Eckhart Travis Casper
16 Ralph Regula Open John Boccieri Kirk Schuring
17 Tim Ryan Re-election Tim Ryan Duane Grassell
18 Zack Space Re-election Zack Space Fred Dailey

District 1
See also: Ohio's 1st congressional district

Democratic nominee Steve Driehaus won against Republican incumbent Steve Chabot. CQ Politics rated the race as 'No Clear Favorite'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Steve Driehaus Democratic 155,089 52.45%
Steve Chabot Republican Incumbent 140,469 47.5%
Rich Stevenson (WI) Independent 67 .02%
Eric Wilson (WI) Independent 84 .03%

District 2
See also: Ohio's 2nd congressional district

Republican incumbent Jean Schmidt won against Democratic nominee Victoria Wulsin and Independent candidate David Krikorian. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Leans Republican'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Jean Schmidt Republican Incumbent 148,671 44.83%
Victoria Wulsin Democratic 124,213 37.46%
David Krikorian Independent Endorsed by the Libertarian Party of Ohio 58,710 17.70%[3]
James Condit (WI) Independent 30 .01%

District 3
See also: Ohio's 3rd congressional district

Republican incumbent Mike Turner won against Democratic nominee Jane Mitakides. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Republican'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Mike Turner Republican Incumbent 200,204 63.32%
Jane Mitakides Democratic 115,976 36.68%

District 4
See also: Ohio's 4th congressional district

Republican incumbent Jim Jordan won against Democratic nominee Mike Carroll. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Republican'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentages
Jim Jordan Republican Incumbent 186,140 65.17%
Mike Carroll Democratic 99,491 34.83%

District 5
See also: Ohio's 5th congressional district

Republican incumbent Bob Latta won against Democratic nominee George Mays. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Republican'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Bob Latta Republican Incumbent 188,905 64.09%
George Mays Democratic 105,840 35.91%

District 6
See also: Ohio's 6th congressional district

Democratic incumbent Charlie Wilson won against Republican nominee Richard Stobbs. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Democrat'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Charlie Wilson Democratic Incumbent 176,330 62.28%
Richard Stobbs Republican 92,968 32.84%
Dennis Spisak Green 13,812 4.88%

District 7
See also: Ohio's 7th congressional district

Republican incumbent David Hobson did not run for reelection in 2008. Republican nominee Steve Austria won against Democratic nominee Sharen Neuhardt. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Republican Favored'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Steve Austria Republican 174,915 58.22%
Sharen Swartz Neuhardt Democratic 125,547 41.78%

District 8
See also: Ohio's 8th congressional district

Republican incumbent John Boehner won against Democratic nominee Nicholas Von Stein. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Republican'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
John Boehner Republican Incumbent 202,063 67.9%
Nicholas Von Stein Democratic 95,510 32.1%

District 9
See also: Ohio's 9th congressional district

Democratic incumbent Marcy Kaptur won against Republican nominee Bradley S. Leavitt. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Democrat'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Marcy Kaptur Democratic Incumbent 222,054 74.37%
Bradley S. Leavitt Republican 76,512 25.63%

District 10
See also: Ohio's 10th congressional district

The Democratic primary was held March 4, 2008, the same day as the Texas and Ohio presidential primaries. The candidates were Cleveland city councilman Joe Cimperman, North Olmsted mayor Thomas O'Grady, Barbra Ferris and Rosemary Palmer.

Incumbent Dennis Kucinich

Kucinich previously stated that he would run again for Congress in 2008 if his bid for President were unsuccessful.[4]

For 2008, however, Kucinich is facing four challengers in the Democratic primary scheduled for March 4, which prompted him to abandon his run for president.[5] Opponents include Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman and North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady. Having only raised around $50,000 so far compared to Cimperman's $228,000,[6] Kucinich has since been putting out appeals for campaign funding on YouTube.[7] Since then, he has managed to raise $700,000, surpassing Cimperman's $487,000.[8]

Cimperman, who is endorsed by the Mayor of Cleveland and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, criticized Kucinich for focusing too much on campaigning for president and not on the district. Kucinich accused Cimperman of representing corporate and real estate interests. Cimperman described Kucinich as an absentee congressman who failed to pass any major legislative initiatives in his 12-year House career. In an interview, Cimperman said he was tired of Kucinich and Cleveland being joke fodder for late-night talk-show hosts, saying "It's time for him to go home".[9][10] An ad paid for by Cimperman's campaign claimed that Kucinich has missed over 300 votes, but by checking the ad's source the actual number is 139.[11]

A report suggested that representatives of Nancy Pelosi and American Israel Public Affairs Committee would "guarantee" Kucinich's re-election if he dropped his bid to impeach Cheney and Bush, though Kucinich denies the meeting happened.[12][13] It was also suggested that Kucinich's calls for universal health care and an immediate withdrawal from Iraq made him a thorn in the side of the Democrats' congressional leadership, as well as his refusal to pledge to support the eventual presidential nominee.[9]

At last minute, Kucinich took part in a debate with the other primary challengers. Barbara Ferris criticized him for not bringing as much money back to the district as other area legislators and authoring just one bill that passed during his 12 years in Congress. Kucinich responded

"It was a Republican Congress and there weren't many Democrats passing meaningful legislation during a Republican Congress."[14]

Kucinich easily won the primary by a 15-point-margin over his nearest opponent Joe Cimperman.

2008 10th district democratic primary election, Ohio
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dennis J. Kucinich (Incumbent) 68,156 50.27%
Democratic Joe Cimperman 47,891 35.32% -
Democratic Barbara Ferris 8,780 6.48% -
Democratic Thomas O'Grady 6,780 5% -
Democratic Rosemary Palmer 3,982 2.94% -
Majority 20,265 14.95%
Turnout

Kucinich then beat Republican nominee Jim Trakas. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Democrat'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Dennis Kucinich Democratic Incumbent 157,268 57.02%
Jim Trakas Republican 107,918 39.13%
Paul Conroy Libertarian 10,623 3.85%[15]

District 11
See also: Ohio's 11th congressional district

Democratic nominee Marcia Fudge won against Republican nominee Thomas Pekarek. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Democrat'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Marcia L. Fudge Democratic Incumbent Stephanie Tubbs Jones died. 212,485 85.21%
Thomas Pekarek Republican 36,705 14.72%
Craig Willis (WI) Independent 144 .06%
Eric Johnson (WI) Independent 23 .01%
Robert Reed (WI) Independent 0 .00%

A special election was held on November 18, 2008 to fill Jones's seat for the remainder of the 110th Congress, until January 3, 2009, which Fudge won with 100% of the vote.[16] See Ohio's 11th congressional district special election, 2008.

District 12
See also: Ohio's 12th congressional district

Republican incumbent Pat Tiberi won against Democratic nominee David Robinson. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Republican Favored'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Pat Tiberi Republican Incumbent 197,447 54.79%
David Robinson Democratic 152,234 42.24%
Steve Linnabary Libertarian 10,707 2.97%[17]

District 13
See also: Ohio's 13th congressional district

Democratic incumbent Betty Sutton won against Republican nominee David Potter. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Democrat'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Betty Sutton Democratic Incumbent 189,542 64.55%
David Potter Republican 104,066 35.44%
Robert Crow (WI) Independent 37 .01%

District 14
See also: Ohio's 14th congressional district

Republican incumbent Steve LaTourette won against Democratic nominee Bill O'Neill. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Republican Favored'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Steve LaTourette Republican Incumbent 188,488 58.32%
Bill O'Neill Democratic 125,214 38.74%
David Macko Libertarian 9,511 2.94%[18]

District 15
See also: Ohio's 15th congressional district

The election results were essentially tied, requiring an automatic recount. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Leans Democratic'. Republican incumbent Deborah Pryce did not run for reelection in 2008, leaving this an open seat. Kilroy defeated Stivers by 2,311 votes in a race not decided until the final ballots were counted on December 7, 2008.

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Steve Stivers Republican 137,272 45.18%
Mary Jo Kilroy Democratic (winner) 139,584 45.94%
Mark M. Noble Libertarian 14,061 4.63%
Don Elijah Eckhart Independent 12,915 4.25%
Travis Casper (WI) Independent 6 0%

District 16
See also: Ohio's 16th congressional district

Democratic nominee John Boccieri won against Republican nominee Kirk Schuring. Republican incumbent Ralph Regula did not run for reelection. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Leans Democratic'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
John Boccieri Democratic 169,044 55.36%
Kirk Schuring Republican 136,293 44.64%

District 17
See also: Ohio's 17th congressional district

Democratic incumbent Tim Ryan won against Republican nominee Duane Grassell. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Safe Democrat'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Tim Ryan Democratic Incumbent 217,556 78.17%
Duane Grassell Republican 60,760 21.83%

District 18
See also: Ohio's 18th congressional district

Democratic incumbent Zack Space won against Republican nominee Fred Dailey. CQ Politics rated the race as 'Democrat Favored'. The following candidates ran in the general election:

Candidate Party Notes Votes Percentage
Zack Space Democratic Incumbent 164,150 59.88%
Fred Dailey Republican 110,001 40.12%

References
  1. AP, Democrat wins central Ohio congressional race.
  2. http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Research/electResultsMain/2008results.aspx%5B%5D
  3. FEDERAL ELECTIONS 2008 Federal Elections Commission Washington, DC July 2009
  4. "Kucinich faces opponents for congressional seat". WTOL TV. January 6, 2008. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
  5. Freep.com
  6. "10th Congressional candidate Palmer raised $133,300 in '07". Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  7. electdennis (22 January 2008). "Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich from Ohio's 10th District". Retrieved 6 December 2016 – via YouTube.
  8. Cleveland.com Archived 2011-06-07 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Americanchronicle.com". Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  10. "The Wall Street Journal & Breaking News, Business, Financial and Economic News, World News and Video". Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  11. "House members who missed votes – 110th Congress". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2010-05-01.
  12. "JTA". Archived from the original on 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
  13. "portland imc - 2008.02.06 - Kucinich throws reps from Nancy Pelosi and AIPAC out of his office". Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  14. Cleveland.com Archived 2010-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
  15. FEDERAL ELECTIONS 2008. Federal Elections Commission. Washington, DC. July 2009
  16. U.S. Representative - 11th Congressional District - Unexpired Term Ending 01/03/2009: November 18, 2008 Archived November 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine Ohio Secretary of State, November 18, 2008, unofficial results
  17. FEDERAL ELECTIONS 2008. Federal Elections Commission. Washington, DC. July 2009
  18. FEDERAL ELECTIONS 2008. Federal Elections Commission. Washington, DC. July 2009
Preceded by
2006 elections		 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio
2008		 Succeeded by
2010 elections
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