2008 Ohio Attorney General special election
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Cordray: 40-50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Crites: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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The 2008 Ohio Attorney General special election was held on November 4, 2008, concurrently with the
As of 2024, this was the last time a Democrat was elected Attorney General of Ohio and the last time a Democratic candidate carried the counties of Licking, Fairfield, Richland, Seneca, Huron, Madison, Medina, Pickaway, Marion, and Crawford in a statewide race.
Background
Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Marc Dann resigned the office on May 14, 2008, due to many scandals including an Extramarital affair and many reports of sexual harassment, as well as condemnation from many fellow Ohio Democrats. As such incumbent Democratic governor Ted Strickland appointed Dean of Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Nancy H. Rogers to the position. Serving since May 28, 2008, she announced that she would not seek election to finish Dann's term. Incumbent treasurer Richard Cordray, who previously ran for Attorney General announced his candidacy for the office.[1]
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Richard Cordray, Incumbent Ohio State Treasurer, former Ohio House of Representatives member from the 33rd district, former Treasurer of Franklin County, former Solicitor General of Ohio, nominee for OH-15 in 1992, nominee for Attorney General in 1998, and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2000.[2]
Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Mike Crites, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio
General election
Results
In the
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Richard Cordray | 2,890,953 | 56.76 | +4.15% | |
| Republican | Mike Crites | 1,956,252 | 38.41 | -8.98% | |
| Total votes | 5,093,207 | 100.00 | N/A | ||
| Democratic hold | |||||
By congressional district
Cordary won 15 out of the 18 congressional districts, including the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 12th, and 14th which all elected Republicans to congress.
| District | Cordray | Crites | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 55% | 38% | Steve Chabot |
| Steve Driehaus | |||
| 2nd | 43% | 51% | Jean Schmidt |
| 3rd | 50% | 45% | Mike Turner |
| 4th | 43% | 50% | Jim Jordan |
| 5th | 48% | 45% | Bob Latta |
| 6th | 58% | 37% | Charlie Wilson |
| 7th | 50% | 44% | Dave Hobson |
| Steve Austria | |||
| 8th | 42% | 52% | John Boehner |
| 9th | 64% | 30% | Marcy Kaptur |
| 10th | 65% | 30% | Dennis Kucinich |
| 11th | 84% | 11% | Stephanie Tubbs Jones |
| Marcia Fudge | |||
| 12th | 60% | 36% | Pat Tiberi |
| 13th | 61% | 33% | Betty Sutton |
| 14th | 55% | 40% | Steve LaTourette |
| 15th | 63% | 32% | Deborah Pryce |
| Mary Jo Kilroy | |||
| 16th | 53% | 41% | Ralph Regula |
| John Boccieri | |||
| 17th | 70% | 25% | Tim Ryan |
| 18th | 54% | 40% | Zack Space |