Chapter 5 – Ohio’s Two-Party System & Voter Behavior

Like every other state, Ohio’s politics are shaped and constrained by two major parties. They influence who chooses to run, how campaigns are fought, and who ultimately wins. So many people are elected to serve in Ohio’s state government that it makes sense to first understand the political system that structures their path to office. Elections connect citizens to government, but they take place within a framework built around party competition, social influences, and geography.

By starting with the two-party system and voter behavior, we can see why Ohio politics looks the way it does and how individual choices fit into broader patterns across the state. This perspective lays the foundation for later chapters, where we turn to each branch of government and the specific offices that Ohioans elect.

The elephant and donkey are iconic symbols of the two-party system in the United States. The Republican Party adopted the elephant, which represents strength and stability, while the Democratic Party uses the donkey to symbolize resilience and determination. These mascots have become synonymous with their respective parties over time.