DeWine Poised to Become First Republican Governor in over Sixty Years Not to Be Re-Elected in Ohio

May 18, 2021

PHILADELPHIA — Today, 314 Action Fund released the results of new polling that shows Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in an unusually weak position for an incumbent ahead of his planned re-election bid in 2022. This poll shows just how rocky the road to re-nomination may be for Gov. DeWine, potentially setting Ohio up for a competitive open gubernatorial election next year. Should he fail to secure re-nomination or to win re-election if re-nominated, DeWine would be Ohio’s first Republican governor in sixty-four years not to be re-elected.

The poll, which was conducted by Public Policy Polling on behalf of 314 Action Fund and polled general election voters across Ohio, shows that if there were a gubernatorial election today, just 34% would vote to re-elect Gov. DeWine, with 48% responding that they think it’s time for someone new.

Among polled voters, 52% voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 election, and 44% voted for Joe Biden. Party breakdown of poll respondents was 39% Republicans, 33% Democrat, and 28% independent. The margin of error of this poll is +/- 3.7%, and the toplines can be viewed here.

“Now that Trump loyalists have taken the reins of the GOP, Republicans want to run a candidate for governor who will stick to their anti-science talking points, and their pitch to kick DeWine to the curb is resonating with voters,” said John Sweeney, spokesperson for 314 Action Fund. “Ohio’s next governor should be a scientist, not whatever conspiracy theorist Trump picks over DeWine.”

In 2022, 314 Action Fund will aim to spend $50 million to elect scientists across all levels of government, with initial targets of seven U.S. Senate races, forty U.S. House races, and twenty-one statewide races—including the Ohio gubernatorial race. In 2020, the organization spent $25 million on behalf of its endorsed candidates and raised a total of $5 million in grassroots donations for scientists running for office.

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314 Action Fund is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people working to elect scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care. In 2018 and 2020, we played a pivotal role in flipping the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, electing eleven Democratic scientists to federal office, as well as over 100 to state and local offices. In 2021 and 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.