1 of 109 state-level incumbents defeated in Ohio’s primaries


Ohio held a statewide primary on April 28, 2020. Originally scheduled for March 17, the election was postponed amid concerns of the coronavirus pandemic. The general election is November 3, 2020.

The primary was held largely by mail. As of 1 p.m. EDT on May 1, the Secretary of State’s office reported that there were 244,061 outstanding absentee and provisional ballots statewide. The following information is based on the unofficial results reported at that time.

A total of 16 out of 33 seats on the Ohio State Senate are up for election in 2020. Five incumbents, all Republicans, were not on the ballot. Of the 11 officeholders to file for re-election, two are Democrats and nine are Republicans. District 14 Sen. Terry Johnson (R) was the only incumbent to face a primary challenger. No incumbents were defeated.

All 99 Ohio House of Representatives districts are up for election in 2020. Nineteen incumbents—five Democrats and 14 Republicans—were not on the ballot. Of the 80 incumbents to file for re-election, 33 are Democrats and 47 are Republicans. Thirteen incumbents faced primary challengers. District 43 Rep. Jeffrey Todd Smith (R) was the only incumbent to be defeated.

Two Ohio Supreme Court justices have terms expiring in 2020. In Ohio, judicial candidates stand for partisan primaries and nonpartisan general elections. Justices Judith French (R) and Sharon L. Kennedy (R) both filed for another term, facing no primary challengers. They both face Democratic challengers in the general election.

Twenty-one Ohio Court of Appeals justices have terms expiring in 2021. Sixteen justices filed for another term, eight Democrats and eight Republicans. Justice Matt Lynch (R) is challenging Justice Timothy Cannon (D) for Cannon’s seat; Lynch’s term does not expire until 2025. Six seats are open. All 16 incumbents advanced to the nonpartisan general election.

Ballotpedia also covered elections for the following municipalities:
  • Cuyahoga County
  • Fairfield County
  • Franklin County
  • Hamilton County
  • Lucas County
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