2010 Ohio State Auditor election

2010 Ohio State Auditor election

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Candidate Dave Yost David Pepper Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,882,010 1,683,330 Percentage 50.22% 44.91%

County results Yost:     40-50%     50-60%     60-70%     70-80% Pepper:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70%

State Auditor before election Mary Taylor Republican Elected State Auditor Dave Yost Republican

The 2010 Ohio State Auditor election was held on November 2, 2010, to elect the Ohio State Auditor, concurrently with elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on May 4, 2010. ^[1]

Incumbent Republican state auditor Mary Taylor originally announced she would seek re-election, but instead was the successful Republican nominee for lieutenant governor after being picked by John Kasich as his running mate in January 2010. ^{[2] [3]} Delaware County prosecutor Dave Yost won the Republican primary against state representative Seth Morgan, and Hamilton County commissioner David Pepper won the Democratic primary unopposed. ^[4] Yost would go on to win the general election. ^[5]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dave Yost, prosecutor of Delaware County and former auditor of Delaware County (1999–2003) ^[6]

Eliminated in primary

• Seth Morgan, state representative from the 36th district (2009–present) ^[7]

Withdrew

• Mary Taylor, incumbent state auditor (2007–present) and former state representative from the 43rd district (2003–2006) (ran for lieutenant governor) ^[3]

Results

Republican primary results ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dave Yost	457,820	64.88%
	Republican	Seth Morgan	247,848	35.12%
Total votes			705,668	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• David Pepper, commissioner of Hamilton County ^[9]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Pepper	514,220	100.0
Total votes			514,220	100.0

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Michael Howard, accountant and former staffer to the Ohio State Auditor ^[11]

Results

Libertarian primary results ^[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Michael Howard	4,263	100.0
Total votes			4,263	100.0

General election

Results

2010 Ohio State Auditor election ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Dave Yost	1,882,010	50,22%
	Democratic	David Pepper	1,683,330	44.91%
	Libertarian	Michael Howard	182,534	4.87%
Total votes			3,747,874	100.0%
	Republican hold

References

1. "2010 Elections Results". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
2. "Taylor to seek re-election, not Senate seat" . The Columbus Dispatch. May 15, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2025. State Auditor Mary Taylor has decided to run for re-election and forgo a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2010.
3. "Ohio Auditor Mary Taylor won't seek re-election, instead will run for lieutenant governor". The Plain Dealer. January 12, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
4. "Republican primary for state auditor". WCBE 90.5 FM. May 5, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
5. "GOP's Yost to become Ohio's next state auditor". The Canton Repository. November 3, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
6. Naymik, Mark (January 25, 2010). "Delaware County Prosecutor David Yost leaves Ohio attorney general race for auditor's race". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
7. "Republican state Rep. Morgan running for auditor". The Columbus Dispatch. January 20, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
8. "Auditor of State - Republican: May 4, 2010". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
9. "Pepper to run for auditor". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved November 3, 2025. Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper is expected to announce his Democratic candidacy for state auditor at a news conference Tuesday.
10. "Auditor of State - Democratic: May 4, 2010". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
11. "Westerville political novice enters state auditor's race" . The Columbus Dispatch. April 21, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2025. The Westerville resident, who has not been active in politics for more than 30 years, has thrown himself into the Nov. 2 race for Ohio auditor as a Libertarian candidate.
12. "Auditor of State - Libertarian: May 4, 2010". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
13. "Auditor of State: November 2, 2010". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 3, 2025.