1986 Ohio State Auditor election

1986 Ohio State Auditor election

November 4, 1986 (1986-11-04)

Nominee Thomas E. Ferguson Waldo Rose Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 2,005,306 1,012,037 Percentage 66.46% 33.54%

County resultsFerguson:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%Rose:     50–60%

State Auditor before election Thomas E. Ferguson Democratic Elected State Auditor Thomas E. Ferguson Democratic

The 1986 Ohio State Auditor election was held on November 4, 1986, to elect the Ohio State Auditor. Primaries were held on May 6, 1986. Democratic incumbent Ohio State Auditor Thomas E. Ferguson won re-election in a landslide, defeating Republican Ohio State House RepresentativeWaldo Rose by a two-to-one margin and sweeping every single county except for Allen County.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Thomas E. Ferguson, incumbent Ohio State Auditor (1975–1995)

Campaign

Ferguson won renomination unopposed.

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Thomas E. Ferguson	631,864	82.62%
Total votes			631,864	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Waldo Rose, Ohio State House Representative (1973–1986) (Write-in)

Campaign

Rose was the only one to run for the Republican nomination, running as a write-in candidate.

Results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Waldo Rose (Write-in)	20,877	100.00%
Total votes			20,877	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Thomas E. Ferguson, incumbent Ohio State Auditor (1975–1995) (Democratic)
• Waldo Rose, Ohio State House Representative (1973–1986) (Republican)

Results

1986 Ohio State Auditor election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Thomas E. Ferguson	2,005,306	66.46%	+14.26
	Republican	Waldo Rose	1,012,037	33.54%	−14.26
Total votes			3,017,343	100.00%
	Democratichold

References

1. "Democratic Primary: May 6, 1986 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
2. "Republican Primary: May 6, 1986 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
3. "General Election: November 4, 1986 - Ohio Secretary of State". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved November 14, 2025.