The 2010 Ohio gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor Ted Strickland ran for a second term and was opposed by former U.S. Representative John Kasich; both Strickland and Kasich won their respective primaries uncontested. Ultimately, Kasich defeated Strickland by a 2% margin.
Strickland's defeat was widely attributed to the decline of Ohio's economy, as well as the loss of 400,000 jobs since the beginning of his term. The policies of the then-president Barack Obama proved to be a hot topic among voters, with Strickland voicing his support for the healthcare overhauls initiated by Obama's administration, contrary to Kasich, who opposed the policies. Republicans held Ohio's governorship from this election until Democratic nominee Amy Acton won 16 years later in 2026.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Ted Strickland, incumbent governor of Ohio
Republican primary
Candidates
- John Kasich, former U.S. representative, chairman of the House Budget Committee and candidate for president in 2000
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Green primary
Candidates
- Dennis Spisak, former congressional candidate
General election
Results
When the polls closed on election night, the race was very close, with Strickland and Kasich neck and neck. As the night wore on, Kasich's lead began to pick up strength. However, once Cuyahoga County came in, Kasich's lead began to erode. In the end Kasich still won, but it was one of the closest gubernatorial elections in Ohio history. Strickland conceded at around 2 A.M. EST.
By county
- Adams (largest city: West Union)
- Ashland (largest city: Ashland)
- Allen (largest city: Lima)
- Brown (largest city: Georgetown)
- Carroll (largest city: Carrollton)
- Champaign (largest city: Urbana)
- Clark (largest municipality: Springfield)
- Clinton (largest city: Wilmington)
- Columbiana (largest city: Salem)
- Coshocton (largest city: Coshocton)
- Crawford (largest city: Bucyrus)
- Delaware (largest city: Delaware)
- Defiance (largest city: Defiance)
- Fairfield (largest city: Lancaster)
- Fayette (largest city: Washington Court House)
- Fulton (largest city: Wauseon)
- Gallia (largest city: Gallipolis)
- Geauga (largest city: Chardon)
- Guernsey (largest city: Cambridge)
- Hardin (largest city: Kenton)
- Henry (largest city: Napoleon)
- Highland (largest city: Hillsboro)
- Huron (largest city: Norwalk)
- Knox (largest city: Mount Vernon)
- Lake (largest city: Mentor)
- Licking (largest city: Newark)
- Madison (largest city: London)
- Marion (largest city: Marion)
- Medina (largest city: Medina)
- Morgan (largest city: McConnelsville)
- Morrow (largest city: Mount Gilead)
- Muskingum (largest city: Zanesville)
- Paulding (largest city: Paulding)
- Perry (largest city: New Lexington)
- Pickaway (largest city: Circleville)
- Portage (largest city: Kent)
- Preble (largest city: Eaton)
- Richland (largest city: Mansfield)
- Sandusky (largest city: Fremont)
- Seneca (largest city: Tiffin)
- Stark (largest city: Canton)
- Tuscarawas (largest city: New Philadelphia)
- Wayne (largest city: Wooster)
- Williams (largest city: Bryan)
- Wyandot (largest city: Upper Sandusky)