2016 United States Senate election in Ohio

Republican senator Rob Portman ran for re-election to a second term in office. He considered running for president in 2016, but ruled out running for two offices at the same time, even though Ohio law does allow it. 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) 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 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governor of Ohio (2007-2011) and former U.S. representative of Ohio's 6th congressional district (1993-1995, 1997-2007) Withdrawn • Bob Hagan, former member of the Ohio State Board of Education (2014-2015), former state senator from the 33rd district (1987-1997, 2007-2014) and former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 • 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) • Nan Whaley, mayor of Dayton (2014-2022) Endorsements Polling 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 Predictions Polling Results Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic • Franklin (largest city: Columbus) Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican • Mahoning (largest city: Youngstown) • Trumbull (largest city: Warren) • Monroe (largest city: Woodsfield) By congressional district Portman won 13 of 16 congressional districts, including one held by a Democrat. ==Analysis==

Despite being seen early on as a tight race, Portman began to gain the upper hand, as Strickland's campaign was said to be the worst he had ever run. Portman received the endorsements of many labor unions, including the Ohio Teamsters and the United Mine Workers Union, both of which usually endorsed Democrats. In the end, Portman won in a landslide. The only region where Strickland outperformed Hillary Clinton was in Appalachia, but his performance there was still disappointing for an area he used to represent in Congress. == References ==