U.S. House, Ohio - 2nd District
Eastern Cincinnati and suburbs; Portsmouth
Race Forecast: Leans Republican
2008: Rep.
2006: Rep.
This strongly conservative swath of southwestern Ohio, including suburbs of Cincinnati and part of the city itself, is very difficult terrain for a Democrat -- much less a Democratic liberal like Vic Wulsin, a physician who is again challenging Schmidt. Three years into the job, Schmidt is still disliked even by some of her fellow Republicans, and she’s had to defend her vote for the financial market stabilization package. Schmidt will run well behind
Race Information
- Incumbent: Rep. Jean Schmidt, R
- First Elected: 2005 (1st full term)
- Last Elected: 2006 (50.45%)
- Incumbent Status: Running for re-election
- Race Forecast: Leans Republican
District Information
Politics in America District Profile
The 2nd stretches from some of Ohio’s wealthiest areas in eastern Cincinnati and Hamilton County in the state’s southwest to struggling rural communities in southern Ohio. One of the state’s most solidly GOP districts, it has a distinct split between its suburban and rural elements.
The district’s economy revolves around light manufacturing and the retail and service industries, and the 2nd’s economic health has been boosted by construction around Cincinnati’s downtown. The 2nd takes in less than one-fourth of the city’s residents, including upscale neighborhoods of Hyde Park and Mount Lookout. Nearly 40 percent of the population lives in Hamilton County, including the well-to-do areas of Madeira, Mariemont, Blue Ash and the Village of Indian Hill.
To the east, fast-growing and once-undeveloped Clermont County has attracted significant business growth and residential development, in large part due to the county’s low taxes. To the north, Warren County has experienced sizable residential growth as well-off families migrate to southern Warren from Hamilton County.
Farther east, Brown, Adams, Pike and Scioto counties are all struggling economically. Pike and Scioto on the 2nd’s eastern edge have some of the state’s highest unemployment rates. The counties depend mainly on agriculture — corn and soybeans are the major crops grown in the region, while tobacco is still grown in Brown and Adams counties.
The 2nd is reliably Republican. While rural and sparsely populated Pike and Scioto counties lean Democratic, they have considerably less political pull than Cincinnati’s wealthy Republican establishment. The remaining five counties all have a strong GOP influence. George W. Bush won more than 70 percent of the vote in Clermont and Warren in the 2004 presidential election and took the 2nd overall with 64 percent of its vote.
Major Industry
Manufacturing, service, retail, agriculture
Cities
Cincinnati (pt.), 74,163; Portsmouth, 20,909
Notable
The John P. Parker House in Ripley is now a museum dedicated to Parker, who helped hundreds of slaves escape along the well-traveled Underground Railroad route across the Ohio River from Kentucky; Ulysses S. Grant’s birthplace in Point Pleasant is a state historical site.
- Demographics (2000 census)
- Population: 630,730
- Under 18: 26%
- Over 65: 12%
- Married: 58.9%
- Non-Hispanic White: 92%
- Black: 5%
- Hispanic: 1%
- Asian: 1%
- Foreign Born: 2.6%
- Language other than English: 4.3%
- Median Household Income: 46,813
- Owner Occupied Housing: 72%
- Income above $200k: 3.5
- Workforce/Education (2000 census)
- White Collar: 63.7%
- Blue Collar: 23.5%
- Services: 12.8%
- Bachelor's Degree: 29%
- Graduate Education: 10.5%
- Civilian Veterans: 60,709
Year | Election | Candidate | Votes | Percent |
---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | general | Jean Schmidt (R) | ||
Victoria Wulsin (D) | ||||
David Krikorian (I) | ||||
2006 | general | Jean Schmidt (R) | 120,112 | 50.4% |
Victoria Wulsin (D) | 117,595 | 49.4% | ||
2004 | general | Rob Portman (R) | 227,102 | 71.7% |
Charles Sanders (D) | 89,598 | 28.3% | ||
2002 | general | Rob Portman (R) | 139,218 | 74% |
Charles Sanders (D) | 48,785 | 26% | ||
James Condit (I) | 13 | 0% |
Year | Democrat | Republican | Independent |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | John Kerry: 36% | George W. Bush: 64% | |
2000 | Al Gore: 35% | George W. Bush: 65% |
Campaign Finance Details for the 2008 Race
Filers | Through | Total Receipts | Total Disbursements | Total From PACs | Total From Individuals | Ending Cash | Debts Owed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WULSIN, VICTORIA (D) | October 15, 2008 | $1,625,494.00 | $1,493,503.00 | $32,500.00 | $1,303,795.00 | $179,899.00 | $70,303.00 |
PORTMAN, ROBERT J (R) | September 30, 2008 | $96,913.00 | $43,493.00 | $1,512,068.00 | |||
SCHMIDT, JEANNETTE H (R) | October 15, 2008 | $1,122,697.00 | $973,975.00 | $63,425.00 | $716,604.00 | $157,589.00 | $277,150.00 |
BLACK, STEPHEN L (D) | June 30, 2008 | $655,105.00 | $655,103.00 | $357,616.00 | |||
MCEWEN, BOB (R) | October 2, 2007 | $1,408.00 | |||||
JACOBS, THOR (D) | January 12, 2008 | $23,700.00 | |||||
HEIMLICH, PHILIP M MR. (R) | September 30, 2008 | $372,783.00 | $286,005.00 | $357,332.00 | $86,775.00 | ||
BRINKMAN, THOMAS E (R) | September 30, 2008 | $154,677.00 | $155,783.00 | $66,427.00 | $883.00 | $74,370.00 | |
CONDIT, JR., JIM (I) | December 31, 2006 | $1,492.00 | |||||
MINAMYER, WILLIAM ERIC (R) | December 31, 2006 | $252.00 | $10,613.00 | ||||
DEWINE, R. PAT (R) | June 30, 2008 | $267.00 | $18,250.00 | ||||
DOWNEY, GABRIELLE VICTORIA (D) | July 15, 2008 | $201.00 | |||||
BAILEY, NATHAN N (R) | March 31, 2008 | $3,352.00 | $3,113.00 | $2,052.00 | |||
KRIKORIAN, DAVID HARRY (UNKNOWN) | October 15, 2008 | $196,878.00 | $130,747.00 | $101,979.00 | $66,130.00 | $60,000.00 |