Robert T. Bennett
Encyclopedia
Robert T. Bennett was the chairman of the Ohio Republican Party
, having served in that post from 1988-2009.
He managed Robert Taft, Jr.
's successful U.S. Senate campaign in 1970, in which he defeated Howard Metzenbaum
to replace retiring Senator Stephen M. Young
. The next year he managed the campaign of Ralph Perk for Mayor of Cleveland. From 1974 to 1988, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Cuyahoga County
Republican Party. Bennett has been very successful in winning elections as Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party. As of 2006, all major statewide offices, sans one Supreme Court seat, were held by Republicans. When Bennett took over in the late 1980s, the Ohio Democratic Party
held most of the important statewide offices and held majorities in the Ohio House of Representatives
and on the Ohio Supreme Court.
Under Bennett's leadership the Republicans swept total power in Ohio in 1994, but suffered disastrous defeats in the November 2006 elections. While Republicans won the complete control of the Ohio Supreme Court, they lost the races for Senator, Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer, but held the position of State Auditor.
Bennett was the Chairman of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, having been appointed by Ohio Secretary of State and 2006 Republican candidate for Governor J. Kenneth Blackwell to serve in this capacity until February 2010. However, he was forced to resign in April 2007, as reported by The Plain Dealer.
Ohio Republican Party
The Ohio Republican Party is the Ohio state affiliate of the United States Republican Party. It was founded in Columbus, Ohio on February 13, 1854. Kevin DeWine has been chairman of the Ohio GOP since 2009...
, having served in that post from 1988-2009.
He managed Robert Taft, Jr.
Robert Taft, Jr.
Robert Taft Jr. was a member of the Taft political family who served as a Republican Congressman from Ohio between 1963 and 1965, as well as between 1967 and 1971. He also served as a U.S. Senator between 1971 and 1976....
's successful U.S. Senate campaign in 1970, in which he defeated Howard Metzenbaum
Howard Metzenbaum
Howard Morton Metzenbaum was an American politician who served for almost 20 years as a Democratic member of the U.S. Senate from Ohio . He also served in the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate from 1943 to 1951.-Early life:Metzenbaum was born in Cleveland, to a poor Jewish family, the son...
to replace retiring Senator Stephen M. Young
Stephen M. Young
Stephen Marvin Young was an American politician of the Democratic Party from Ohio. He was a United States Senator from Ohio from 1958 until 1971....
. The next year he managed the campaign of Ralph Perk for Mayor of Cleveland. From 1974 to 1988, he served as Vice-Chairman of the Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
Republican Party. Bennett has been very successful in winning elections as Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party. As of 2006, all major statewide offices, sans one Supreme Court seat, were held by Republicans. When Bennett took over in the late 1980s, the Ohio Democratic Party
Ohio Democratic Party
The Ohio Democratic Party is the Ohio affiliate to the United States Democratic Party. Former Ohio House Minority Leader Chris Redfern is the Ohio Democratic Party chairman. Redfern was elected to office in December 2005...
held most of the important statewide offices and held majorities in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
and on the Ohio Supreme Court.
Under Bennett's leadership the Republicans swept total power in Ohio in 1994, but suffered disastrous defeats in the November 2006 elections. While Republicans won the complete control of the Ohio Supreme Court, they lost the races for Senator, Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Treasurer, but held the position of State Auditor.
Bennett was the Chairman of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, having been appointed by Ohio Secretary of State and 2006 Republican candidate for Governor J. Kenneth Blackwell to serve in this capacity until February 2010. However, he was forced to resign in April 2007, as reported by The Plain Dealer.