1994 Ohio State Auditor election

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1994 Ohio State Auditor election
Flag of Ohio.svg
 1990November 8, 1994 (1994-11-08) 1998  
  Jim Petro, January 11, 2013 (cropped).jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Jim Petro Randall W. Sweeney
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote1,883,8521,337,558
Percentage58.48%41.52%

1994 Ohio State Auditor election results map by county.svg
Petro:     50–60%     60–70%     70-80%
Sweeney:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

State Auditor before election

Thomas E. Ferguson
Democratic

Elected State Auditor

Jim Petro
Republican

The 1994 Ohio State Auditor election was held on November 8, 1994, to elect the Ohio State Auditor. Primaries were held on May 3, 1994. Democratic incumbent Ohio State Auditor Thomas E. Ferguson chose to retire rather than seek another term.

Contents

Republican Cuyahoga County Commissioner and previously unsuccessful 1990 candidate for this office Jim Petro won the election, defeating Democrat Randall W. Sweeney by 16 percentage points.

This election marked the end of the Democrats' and the Ferguson family dynasty's control of the office of Ohio State Auditor; they had collectively held the office for 24 years, from 1971 until 1995.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

Sweeney easily won the nomination over Lucas County Treasurer Ray T. Kest, winning by over 30 percentage points.

Results

Democratic primary results [1]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Randall W. Sweeney 508,324 67.39%
Democratic Ray T. Kest245,97132.61%
Total votes739,724 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Campaign

Petro won the Republican nomination unopposed.

Results

Republican primary results [2]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Petro 609,280 100%
Total votes609,280 100.00%

General election

Candidates

Results

1994 Ohio State Auditor election results [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Jim Petro 1,883,852 58.48% +11.28%
Democratic Randall W. Sweeney1,337,55841.52%−11.28%
Total votes3,266,718 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. "Democratic Primary: May 3, 1994 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  2. "Republican Primary: May 3, 1994 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
  3. "General Election: November 8, 1994 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved October 28, 2025.