Ohio Democratic Party

The Ohio Democratic Party is the Ohio affiliate to the national Democratic party.

History

The Ohio Democratic Party traces its origin to the Democratic-Republican Party founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1793. The Democratic Party itself was formed from a faction of the Republicans, known as the "Democratic-Republicans," led by Andrew Jackson. Following Jackson's defeat in the election of 1824, despite having a majority of the popular vote, Jackson set about building a political coalition strong enough to defeat John Quincy Adams in the election of 1828. The coalition that he built was the foundation of the subsequent Democratic party.

Related Topics:
Democratic-Republican Party - Thomas Jefferson - 1793 - Andrew Jackson - 1824 - John Quincy Adams - 1828

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Ohio politics was largely dominated by the Ohio Republican Party until the economic and social hardships brought on by the Great Depression resulted in a national political realignment. The political coalition of labor unions, minorities, and liberals allowed the Democrats to compete effectively in Ohio electoral politics for much of the next 30 years. Never very strong in Ohio's rural areas, the party's coalition suffered when the civil rights movement divided conservative whites from liberals and minorities. The Ohio Democratic Party reached the peak of its elecoral success in the mid-1980s, when Democrats held the following offices:

Related Topics:
Ohio Republican Party - Great Depression - Political realignment

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State Executive

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• Governorship: Richard F. Celeste (1983-1991)
• Lieutenant governors: Myrl H. Shoemaker (1983-1985) and Paul R. Leonard (1987-1991)
• Ohio Attorney General (1987-1995): Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. (1987-1991) and Lee Fisher (1991-1995)
• Ohio State Auditor (1971-1995): Joseph T. Ferguson (1971-1975) and Thomas E. Ferguson (1975-1995)
• Ohio Secretary of State (1979-1991): Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. (1979-1983) and Sherrod Brown (1983-1991)
• Ohio State Treasurer (1971-1995): Gertrude W. Donahey (1971-1983) and Mary Ellen Withrow (1983-1995)

U.S. Congress

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• Both U.S. Senators from Ohio: John H. Glenn Jr. (1974-1999) and Howard M. Metzenbaum (1974, 1976-1995)
• Majority of Ohio's delegation to the United States House of Representatives (1983-1995), reaching a peak of 11-8 (1993-1995)

State Legislative

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• Majority in the Ohio State Senate (1983-1985): Senate President Harry Meshel
• Majority in the Ohio House of Representatives (1973-1995): Speaker Vernal G. Riffe Jr. (1975-1995)

State Judicial

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• Majority on the Ohio Supreme Court (1977-1987), with a 6-1 majority from 1983-1985, and a Democratic chief justice (Frank Celebrezze) from 1978-1986

Even with its successes, Ohio Democrats did not fare well on a national level. John Glenn, a popular U.S. senator, astronaut, and national hero, ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1984, ending up with only a huge campaign debt to show for it. Howard Metzenbaum, Ohio's other U.S. senator at the time, although a powerful force in the Senate, never achieved national name recognition.

Related Topics:
John Glenn - Astronaut - 1984 - Howard Metzenbaum

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As Democratic incumbents have retired, they have largely been replaced by Republicans, aided by gerrymandering.

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