Who won Ohio in the 1988 presidential election?

Bush (Republican) carried Ohio in 1988, winning its 23 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did Ohio have in 1988?

Ohio cast 23 electoral votes in the 1988 presidential election.

Did Ohio vote for the national winner in 1988?

Yes. Ohio backed George H. W. Bush, who won the presidency that year.

Cold War RealignmentOH · 23 EV

1988

Ohio: Bush carries 23 EV.

Ohio cast its 23 electoral votes for Bush (Republican). National winner: George H. W. Bush (Republican) — Ohio voted with the national winner this cycle.

What happened in Ohio, 1988

In 1988, Ohio awarded its 23 electoral votes to Bush of the Republican party. That placed Ohio with the eventual winner: George H. W. Bush went on to take the presidency, and Ohio was part of his column.

Ohio stayed in the Republican column for the 3rd straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1980. The region divided — Michigan, Indiana, and Kentucky joined Ohio for the Republican ticket, while West Virginia and Pennsylvania did not. Over its 56 recorded presidential cycles, Ohio has backed the Republican party more than any other — 30 times in all. The vote fell within the Cold War Realignment — Nixon, Reagan, and the Republican South.

Nationally, George H. W. Bush finished with 426 of the 538 electoral votes to Michael Dukakis's 111. George H. W. Bush led the national popular vote with 53.37% of the ballots cast.

The 1988 national map

Ohio full history →