ABC News: Key Ohio primary with Trump backed candidate

UC political scientist David Niven is media’s ‘go to’ expert on Ohio politics

On Tuesday, March 19, the Ohio primary elections brought out 22% of Ohio voters. 

The most high-profile race was that of the Republican candidates for U.S. senate; and despite a three-person race, the Trump backed Bernie Moreno was able to secure a majority of GOP voters and won in all 88 of Ohio’s counties.

headshot of David Niven

David Niven, PhD, associate professor of public and international affairs. Photo/UC Marketing + Brand.

"A lot of those [undecided voters] have no idea who Trump's endorsed in this race, and they will know after this week," David Niven, a political scientist at the University of Cincinnati, told ABC News prior to the election.

After the win, Niven fielded calls from media across the country — as is typically the case when it comes to all things Ohio politics whether it be opinions on party politics in Ohio.  

“It is really notable that more than twice as many Republicans showed up as Democrats. Even with a competitive Senate primary, that is a major red flag for Democrats,” he told News From the States.

A trusted media source, Niven is an associate professor at UC who teaches American politics and conducts research on campaigns, political communication and death penalty policy in UC’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA).

SPIA was created out of the former Department of Political Science, which dates to 1914, and political scientists there are often sought out by media to contribute their expertise.  

Niven is also cited in the following national media:  

Mother Jones: Donald Trump—And Democrats—Should Be Pleased With Ohio’s Senate Primary

USA Today: Ohio's Republican Senate primary reaches bruising end with no clear favorite

 Featured image at top of David Niven. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.  

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