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Ohio Primary Election Results

U.S. Senate

The author and venture capitalist J.D. Vance secured former President Donald J. Trump’s endorsement in this crowded and contentious Senate Republican primary that will serve as a test of the former president’s influence over congressional races. On the Democratic side, Representative Tim Ryan has won the nomination.

Republican Primary

Updated May 5, 2022
>95% reported
Candidate Votes Pct.
J.D. Vance
340,991 +32.2% 32.2%
Josh Mandel
253,051 +23.9% 23.9
Matt Dolan
247,042 +23.3% 23.3
Total reported
1,059,113

Democratic Primary

Updated May 5, 2022
>95% reported
Candidate Votes Pct.
Tim Ryan
355,764 +69.7% 69.7%
Morgan Harper
90,485 +17.7% 17.7
Traci Johnson
64,113 +12.6% 12.6
Total reported
510,362

Analysis From Our Reporters

  • Katie Glueck
    Katie Glueck May 3, 2022

    Representative Shontel Brown defeated Nina Turner, her left-wing primary challenger, in a rematch that drew national attention. Several more primaries in the coming weeks will shed further light on the direction of the Democratic Party in the Biden era.

  • Jennifer Medina
    Jennifer Medina May 3, 2022

    Tonight was the first test of Trump’s power in the Republican Party. But there are many more tests in the coming weeks and months, including primaries in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona.

  • Maggie Haberman
    Maggie Haberman May 3, 2022

    Trump called Vance to congratulate him a short time ago.

  • Leah Askarinam
    Leah Askarinam May 3, 2022

    Jane Timken also announced she called Vance to congratulate him.

  • Blake Hounshell
    Blake Hounshell May 3, 2022

    Democrats are not confident they can defeat J.D. Vance in November. But we’re already seeing the outlines of their attack: It will be Tim Ryan, the home-state hero, versus the guy who left the state, became a celebrity and made millions in Silicon Valley.

  • Jennifer Medina
    Jennifer Medina May 3, 2022

    This is a victory not just for Vance, but also for Trump. Both Vance and Mandel fiercely embraced the former president and Dolan, who distanced himself ever so slightly, ended up as an also-ran.

  • Katie Glueck
    Katie Glueck May 3, 2022

    A statement from Matt Dolan: “I pledge to unite our party and endorse J.D. Vance to be our next U.S. senator.”

  • Katie Glueck
    Katie Glueck May 3, 2022

    Representative Tim Ryan, who won the Democratic Senate primary tonight: “You tell your friends, and you tell your family, ‘Come hear Tim. He’s not talking about a food fight in Washington, D.C. He’s talking about getting stuff done.’”

  • Leah Askarinam
    Leah Askarinam May 3, 2022

    Donald Trump not-so-subtly encouraged a primary challenge after Mike DeWine acknowledged that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. Trump isn’t letting go of that grudge in Arizona or Georgia, even if he didn’t act on it in Ohio.

  • Katie Glueck
    Katie Glueck May 3, 2022

    Representative Shontel Brown campaigned with a spate of high-profile national surrogates in recent days, including Representatives James E. Clyburn and Hakeem Jeffries. She was also endorsed by President Biden.

  • Reid Epstein
    Reid Epstein May 3, 2022

    Former Mayor Nan Whaley of Dayton has won the Democratic primary for Ohio governor. She’ll face a steep uphill climb in the general election against Gov. Mike DeWine.

  • Katie Glueck
    Katie Glueck May 3, 2022

    There were a number of Dolan-inclined voters at a Whole Foods parking lot in suburban Cleveland recently. “He’s the most down-to-earth and not so extreme,” said one.

  • Nate Cohn
    Nate Cohn May 3, 2022

    Most of the results so far in Ohio are early votes, but we’re starting to get a few Election Day votes and Vance has been doing a bit better than he did in the early vote — perhaps reflecting Trump’s late endorsement.

  • Jennifer Medina
    Jennifer Medina May 3, 2022

    The former Trump aide Max Miller appears to be sailing to victory in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District Republican primary. Miller has Trump’s backing and is expected to easily win the safe Republican district.

  • Jennifer Medina
    Jennifer Medina May 3, 2022

    Josh Mandel, who grew up in Cleveland’s moderate suburbs, is lagging far behind Matt Dolan in Cuyahoga County. Mandel spent much of his time campaigning in evangelical churches in more rural parts of Ohio.

  • Reid Epstein
    Reid Epstein May 3, 2022

    Gov. Mike DeWine has won the Republican nomination for a second term in Ohio. He held off a pair of Trump-inspired candidates, former Representative Jim Renacci and Joe Blystone, an underfunded farmer.

  • Katie Glueck
    Katie Glueck May 3, 2022

    Matt Dolan, who rejected former President Donald J. Trump’s false claims about a stolen election, spent time campaigning in more moderate suburbs in the home stretch. That is evident in the Cleveland-area early returns.

  • Nate Cohn
    Nate Cohn May 3, 2022

    Dolan is often doing quite well in metropolitan Ohio, but it is hard to overstate how badly he is struggling in rural areas. He’s usually not even among the top three candidates.

  • Blake Hounshell
    Blake Hounshell May 3, 2022

    It’s early, but so far the geography of the Republican Senate primary is shaping up as expected: with Matt Dolan showing strength in urban areas, while J.D. Vance is doing well in the suburbs.

  • Shane Goldmacher
    Shane Goldmacher May 3, 2022

    The Trump influence on the Vance campaign can also be heard in the election night party playlist, where "YMCA" is now blasting into the ballroom.

Governor

Gov. Mike DeWine is widely expected to defeat Jim Renacci, a former congressman who is running to his right. In the Democratic primary, two former mayors — John Cranley and Nan Whaley — are facing off, with Ms. Whaley seeking to become the first woman elected governor in the state.

Republican Primary

Updated May 5, 2022
>95% reported
Candidate Votes Pct.
Mike DeWine*
514,374 +48.1% 48.1%
Jim Renacci
299,515 +28.0% 28.0
Joe Blystone
232,716 +21.8% 21.8
Ron Hood
22,212 +2.1% 2.1
Total reported
1,068,817

* Incumbent

Democratic Primary

Updated May 5, 2022
>95% reported
Candidate Votes Pct.
Nan Whaley
326,329 +65.0% 65.0%
John Cranley
175,771 +35.0% 35.0
Total reported
502,100

U.S. House

7th District Republican Primary

Updated May 5, 2022
>95% reported
Candidate Votes Pct.
Max Miller
42,728 +71.8% 71.8%
Jonah Schulz
8,230 +13.8% 13.8
Charlie Gaddis
5,515 +9.3% 9.3
Anthony Alexander
3,004 +5.1% 5.1
Total reported
59,477

9th District Republican Primary

Updated May 5, 2022
>95% reported
Candidate Votes Pct.
J.R. Majewski
21,657 +35.8% 35.8%
Craig Riedel
18,565 +30.7% 30.7
Theresa Gavarone
17,377 +28.7% 28.7
Beth Deck
2,906 +4.8% 4.8
Total reported
60,505

11th District Democratic Primary

Updated May 5, 2022
>95% reported
Candidate Votes Pct.
Shontel Brown*
43,997 +66.3% 66.3%
Nina Turner
22,329 +33.7% 33.7
Total reported
66,326

* Incumbent

13th District Republican Primary

Updated May 5, 2022
>95% reported
Candidate Votes Pct.
Madison Gesiotto Gilbert
16,057 +28.6% 28.6%
Gregory Wheeler
13,123 +23.4% 23.4
Janet Folger Porter
9,284 +16.6% 16.6
Total reported
56,086

All Races

What to Watch

Are there any new voting rules or ballot access changes in Ohio?

Ohio did not pass any voting laws after the 2020 election, though a new provision tucked into a funding bill prohibits local officials from accepting money for election administration from nongovernmental organizations.

Will redistricting affect the congressional elections in Ohio?

Ohio’s congressional primary elections are taking place as scheduled only because of a technicality in a dispute between the commission charged with redrawing the state’s political maps and the Ohio Supreme Court. The commission has twice drawn new maps of the state’s 15 congressional districts, and both times, the court rejected them as partisan gerrymanders favoring Republicans. Even though the maps were struck down, the state’s constitution allows for the second version to be used for the primary elections because a third proposal won’t be ready until after the May 3 primary. The court could, in theory, later approve another map for use in elections in 2024. The state legislative races, on the other hand, were removed from the May 3 ballot while the court hears challenges to a fourth attempt at redrawing those districts. A new date for those elections has not been set.

What issues are dominating the campaign in Ohio?

Inflation and high gas, food and energy prices have been among the top issues concerning voters in Ohio, as in other races across the nation. But in a state where many of former President Donald J. Trump’s promises to bring back manufacturing jobs and companies failed to materialize, candidates have also spent a great deal of time trying to win over Trump loyalists and white working-class voters. In the state’s marquee race, for the Senate seat being vacated by Rob Portman, a Republican, a crowded field of high-profile Republicans has focused on crime, voter fraud and illegal immigration. The Democratic front-runner in the Senate race, Tim Ryan, has centered on creating jobs and taking on competition with China.

What can Ohio tell us about the overall story of the midterms?

All eyes are on the Republican Senate primary, which will test former President Donald J. Trump’s support among white working-class voters and his role as a kingmaker in the party. Mr. Trump has put his weight behind the author and venture capitalist J.D. Vance, who until recently has struggled to break through. — Nick Corasaniti, Michael Wines and Jazmine Ulloa

Other Races

Attorney General

Auditor

Secretary of State

Supreme Court

Treasurer