The state of Ohio has taken part in 55 U.S. presidential elections, voting for the nationwide winner in 45 of these elections, giving a success rate of 82 percent. With this high success rate and relatively high number of electoral votes, Ohio has generally been viewed as a battleground state throughout U.S. history. Before 2020, Ohio had voted for the overall winner in every election since 1964, and had only failed to choose the winner in three elections since 1888. In the 2020 election, however, the Buckeye State somewhat lost its reputation as a bellweather state, as Donald Trump carried the popular vote by an 8.1 percent margin; the same margin as his victory in 2016.
Ohioans in office
Seven U.S. president were born in Ohio, which is the second highest number after Virginia's eight presidents. Despite being the birthplace of so many presidents, all of these men served in office between 1869 and 1925, meaning that seven of the ten presidents who served between these years were from Ohio; the first was Ulysses S. Grant, who was first elected in 1868, and the final was Warren G. Harding, who was elected in 1920. No other major party candidate, before or after these years, was born in Ohio; although William Henry Harrison did live and hold public office there before winning the 1840 election.
Electoral votes
Ohio's allocation of electoral votes has been among the highest in the country since the 1820s, staying between 21 and 26 votes between the 1832 and 2008 elections. However, after peaking at 26 votes in the 1960s, Ohio's allocation of votes has gradually fallen to just 18 votes in recent elections, and is expected to fall again in the 2024 election. It remains to be seen whether Ohio will regain its reputation as a key battleground state in future elections.
Number of electoral votes from Ohio designated to each party's candidate in U.S. presidential elections from 1804 to 2020
Year and candidate
Democrat
Republican
Democratic-Republican
Whig
Uncast ballot
2020: Donald Trump
-
18
-
-
-
2016: Donald Trump*
-
18
-
-
-
2012: Barack Obama*
18
-
-
-
-
2008: Barack Obama*
20
-
-
-
-
2004: George W. Bush*
-
20
-
-
-
2000: George W. Bush*
-
21
-
-
-
1996: Bill Clinton*
21
-
-
-
-
1992: Bill Clinton*
21
-
-
-
-
1988: George H. W. Bush*
-
24
-
-
-
1984: Ronald Reagan*
-
24
-
-
-
1980: Ronald Reagan*
-
25
-
-
-
1976: Jimmy Carter*
25
-
-
-
-
1972: Richard Nixon*
-
25
-
-
-
1968: Richard Nixon*
-
26
-
-
-
1964: Lyndon B. Johnson*
26
-
-
-
-
1960: Richard Nixon
-
25
-
-
-
1956: Dwight D. Eisenhower*
-
25
-
-
-
1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower*
-
25
-
-
-
1948: Harry S. Truman*
25
-
-
-
-
1944: Thomas E. Dewey
-
25
-
-
-
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt*
26
-
-
-
-
1936: Franklin D. Roosevelt*
26
-
-
-
-
1932: Franklin D. Roosevelt*
26
-
-
-
-
1928: Herbert Hoover*
-
24
-
-
-
1924: Calvin Coolidge*
-
24
-
-
-
1920: Warren G. Harding*
-
24
-
-
-
1916: Woodrow Wilson*
24
-
-
-
-
1912: Woodrow Wilson*
24
-
-
-
-
1908: William Howard Taft*
-
23
-
-
-
1904: Theodore Roosevelt*
-
23
-
-
-
1900: William McKinley*
-
23
-
-
-
1896: William McKinley*
-
23
-
-
-
1892: Benjamin Harrison (22), Grover Cleveland* (1)
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270towin.com. (December 16, 2020). Number of electoral votes from Ohio designated to each party's candidate in U.S. presidential elections from 1804 to 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 13, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1130597/ohio-electoral-votes-since-1804/
270towin.com. "Number of electoral votes from Ohio designated to each party's candidate in U.S. presidential elections from 1804 to 2020." Chart. December 16, 2020. Statista. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1130597/ohio-electoral-votes-since-1804/
270towin.com. (2020). Number of electoral votes from Ohio designated to each party's candidate in U.S. presidential elections from 1804 to 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 13, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1130597/ohio-electoral-votes-since-1804/
270towin.com. "Number of Electoral Votes from Ohio Designated to Each Party's Candidate in U.S. Presidential Elections from 1804 to 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 16 Dec 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1130597/ohio-electoral-votes-since-1804/
270towin.com, Number of electoral votes from Ohio designated to each party's candidate in U.S. presidential elections from 1804 to 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1130597/ohio-electoral-votes-since-1804/ (last visited October 13, 2024)
Number of electoral votes from Ohio designated to each party's candidate in U.S. presidential elections from 1804 to 2020 [Graph], 270towin.com, December 16, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1130597/ohio-electoral-votes-since-1804/