10/16/2026
It is the 2026 mid term election season with General Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd.
So let’s turn back the pages on the calendar (a bit) to the mid term election in 1986 (Tuesday, November 4th) - 40 years ago!
Were you born at that time? Were you old enough to vote? Do you remember this hotly contested mid term election.
President Ronald Reagan was in the middle of his second term. His popularity was waning and sadly so was his memory. Some similarity to today with an aging President in his second term and with slipping popularity numbers.
The mid term (even year election) is when Ohio Governors are elected. And in 1986 Democrat Richard Celeste and running mate Paul Leonard were successful in defeating James Rhodes (R) ( who had previously served four terms as Ohio Governor) and his running mate Robert Taft II. Over a decade later Taft would become Ohio Governor, elected in 1998.
Some other names from four decades ago. ..
Anthony ‘Tony’ Celebrezze Jr. (D) was elected to the first of two terms as Ohio Attorney General defeating Barry Levy.
(R).
Thomas Ferguson (D) continued his nearly 60-year run as State Auditor easily defeating Ben Rose (R). (Notice no term limits then for State elected officials).
A youthful Sherrod Brown (D) fresh from serving in the Ohio Legislature was elected to the first of two terms as Ohio Secretary of State defeated Vincent Campanella. *Sherrod Brown at age 74-years is back on the 2026 ballot seeking election and a return to the U.S. Senate!
And in the race for Ohio Treasurer in 1986 Democrat Mary Ellen Withrow won her second of three terms as Treasurer defeating Jeff Jacobs (R).
A few other 1986 highlights…
American hero John Glenn (D) of New Concord won a second term as U.S. Senator from Ohio defeating Thomas Kindness (R).
Licking County was split between two U.S. House Districts. (Redistricting was then and is now still a hot topic)
Lancaster’s Clarence Miller (R) continued his 26-year run in Congress defeating John Buchanan (R) for District 10).
And former Ohio legislator John Kasich (R) was elected to Congress from Ohio’s 12th District defeating Timothy Joachim (D).
Licking County (as is currently the case) was part of two Ohio House Districts…
Marc Guthrie (D) (former County Commissioner) was elected to the Ohio House District 67 defeating Melvin Cunningham (R).
And Lancaster’s Steven Williams (R) won the 78th District Ohio House seat over Randall Bergens(d
D).
Quiz - Do you remember who was the long term Speaker of the Ohio House at that time?
And moving up from the Ohio House Utica’s Eugene ‘Clean Gene’ Branstool (D) was elected to Ohio’s 31st District Senate seat defeating Ronald Shoemaker (R) in a very contested and close race.
Longtime County Commissioner Phil Shipley (D) won the race for County Commissioner over Wendell Parkinson (R). And longtime County Auditor George Buchanan (R) defeated challenger Richard Van Buren (D).
There was one countywide Issue for what was then called ‘Schools and Training Centers for Mental Retardation Board’. *Names have certainly changed since then.
And 40 other money issues for villages, townships and schools were to be decided. The cycle continues in 2026!
Attached are photos of the 1986 Voters Guide that ran in the daily Advocate newspaper and was compiled by the League of Women Voters.
Hope you enjoyed a snapshot from the election season 40-years ago’
Tim Bubb, Licking County Commissioner
