U.S. House or Representatives: 19 total seats
           8 Democrats 
           11 Republicans

           History: Ohio was settled by Virginians in the Southwest, around Cincinnati, and by New Englanders in the Northeast, around Cleveland.  It has always been split between these two cultures.  That split has made Ohio a politically divided state.
The Northeast portion of the state – including the cities of Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, and Toledo – has been heavily unionised (rubber, steel, and glass are produced there) and leans toward the Democrat party.  Cincinnati in the South, Columbus in the centre of the state, and the small factory towns in the Northwest  are mostly Republican strongholds.
Ohio produced the Republican President William McKinley in 1896.  He was a former governor of the state, and former chairman of the House ways and Means Committee who stood for high tariffs, hard money, and was anti- union.
Another conservative Ohioan, Robert Taft (grandfather of the present governor), was a major figure in the U.S. Senate in the 1940s and authored the Taft- Harley act (1947) which reduced union power in the U.S.  Taft opposed Gen. Dwight Eisenhower in the 1952 Republican primary but lost the nomination.
In the 1970s Ohio swung to the Democrats who controlled the State House throughout the 1970s and 1980s.  But in the 1990s, Ohio veered Republican.  Despite this, President Clinton carried the state in 1992 (40% to 38%) and in 1996 (47% to 41%). 
           Ohio Republicans won a strong victory in 1994, including the re-election  of a Republican governor by a 75% to 25% margin.  Also in 1994, Republicans elected Mike DeWine as Senator over democrat Joel Hyatt by a 53% to 39% margin.  Ohio had not elected a republican senator since 1970.  And Republicans won all the state-wide offices, which had been dominated by Democrats since 1970.
           In 1996, Ohio Republicans lost two U.S. House seats, but held a majority of the House delegation and both houses of the state legislature.  
           The Ohio Republican party does not have an official platform but generally follows the principles of the Republican national platform.  Among these principles are:
           A balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
           Lower taxes within a simpler tax system.
           Reduced government spending.
           Tough law enforcement, especially against juvenile crime and drug traffic, with stiff penalties, no loopholes, and judges that respect the rights of law- abiding citizens.
           Welfare reform that eliminates waste, fraud and abuse; requires work from those who are capable; and limits time on public assistance.
           Family choice in schooling (vouchers). 
           Defending America against missile attack.
           The Ohio primary election is scheduled for March 7, 2000. Ohio will send a total of 69 delegates and 69 alternate delegates to the 2000 convention.  They will comprise 12 delegates, and 12 alternate delegates at large.  57 district delegates (3 from each Congressional district), and 57 alternate district delegates (3 from each Congressional district).
           Governor Bob Taft is the chairman of the Ohio Bush for President Committee, and it is considered likely that Ohio Republicans will support Bush in the presidential primary.  However, Malcolm Forbes has the support of Ken Blackwell, Ohio’s secretary of state.