Closest U.S. Senate elections in Ohio
The closest U.S. Senate election in Ohio history was in 1964, a margin of 0.44 points. Stephen M. Young beat Robert Taft Jr., 1,923,608 to 1,906,781. Next closest are 1944 (0.60 points) and 1970 (2.2 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Ohio has held, special elections included, see the Ohio U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Ohio history?
The Ohio Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1964, 0.44 points. Stephen M. Young beat Robert Taft Jr., 1,923,608 to 1,906,781. The next closest were 1944 (0.60 points) and 1970 (2.2 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Ohio’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Ohio Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Ohio election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1964 | Stephen M. Young D def. Robert Taft Jr. R | 1,923,608 – 1,906,781 | 0.44 points |
| 2 | 1944 | Robert A. Taft R def. William G. Pickrel D | 1,500,809 – 1,483,069 | 0.60 points |
| 3 | 1970 | Robert Taft Jr. R def. Howard M. Metzenbaum D | 1,565,682 – 1,495,262 | 2.2 points |
| 4 | 1976 | Howard M. Metzenbaum D def. Robert Taft Jr. R | 1,941,113 – 1,823,774 | 3.0 points |
| 5 | 1968 | William B. Saxbe R def. John J. Gilligan D | 1,928,964 – 1,814,152 | 3.1 points |
| 6 | 1916 | Atlee Pomerene D def. Myron T. Herrick R | 571,488 – 535,391 | 3.1 points |
| 7 | 1922 | Simeon D. Fess R def. Atlee Pomerene D | 794,159 – 744,558 | 3.2 points |
| 8 | 2024 | Bernie Moreno R def. Sherrod Brown D | 2,857,383 – 2,650,949 | 3.6 points |
| 9 | 1940 | Harold H. Burton R def. John McSweeney D | 1,602,567 – 1,457,359 | 4.7 points |
| 10 | 1958 | Stephen M. Young D def. John W. Bricker R | 1,652,211 – 1,497,199 | 4.9 points |
| 11 | 1956 | Frank J. Lausche D def. George H. Bender R | 1,864,589 – 1,660,910 | 5.8 points |
| 12 | 2012 | Sherrod Brown D def. Josh Mandel R | 2,762,690 – 2,435,712 | 6.0 points |
| 13 | 2022 | JD Vance R def. Tim Ryan D | 2,192,114 – 1,939,489 | 6.1 points |
| 14 | 1926 | Frank B. Willis R def. Atlee Pomerene D | 711,359 – 623,221 | 6.6 points |
| 15 | 1932 | Robert J. Bulkley D def. Gilbert Bettman R | 1,290,175 – 1,126,830 | 6.6 points |
| 16 | 2018 | Sherrod Brown D def. Jim Renacci R | 2,355,923 – 2,053,963 | 6.8 points |
| 17 | 1938 | Robert A. Taft R def. Robert J. Bulkley D | 1,257,412 – 1,086,815 | 7.3 points |
| 18 | 1992 | John Glenn D def. Mike DeWine R | 2,444,419 – 2,028,300 | 8.7 points |
| 19 | 1952 | John W. Bricker R def. Michael Disalle V D | 1,878,961 – 1,563,330 | 9.2 points |
| 20 | 1914 | Warren G. Harding R def. Timothy S. Hogan D | 526,115 – 423,742 | 9.6 points |
| 21 | 2006 | Sherrod Brown D def. Mike DeWine R | 2,257,369 – 1,761,037 | 12.3 points |
| 22 | 1998 | George Voinovich R def. Mary O. Boyle D | 1,922,087 – 1,482,054 | 12.9 points |
| 23 | 1988 | Howard M. Metzenbaum D def. George Voinovich R | 2,480,038 – 1,872,716 | 13.9 points |
| 24 | 1994 | Mike DeWine R def. Joel Hyatt D | 1,836,556 – 1,348,213 | 14.2 points |
| 25 | 1946 | John W. Bricker R def. James W. Huffman D | 1,275,774 – 947,610 | 14.7 points |