Our Mission

The Clermont County Democratic Party strives to elect Democratic Candidates and promote Democratic issues that reflect our commitment to social and economic justice, environmental stewardship, and effective government. By raising awareness of our party and its core beliefs through meetings, forums, trainings, social events, and community service, we will strengthen our community and create a more balance electorate.

Our History

The earliest record of the existence of the Clermont County Democratic Party dates back to 1824 when Andrew Jackson (D) won the popular vote in Clermont County and the nation, but the US House of Representatives voted to install John Quincy Adams (R) as President since Jackson did not have a majority in the Electoral College.   In a re-match four years later in 1928, Andrew Jackson won the election for President over President Adams, and won handily in Clermont County.   Interestingly enough, even though Ulysses S. Grant (R) was born and raised in Clermont County, and did win the Presidential Election in 1868 and 1872, he did not carry Clermont County.  Grant was soundly defeated in the County by democratic challenger Horatio Seymour in 1868 and  the Liberal Republican Horace Greeley in 1872.  Grant, the 18^th President, was the youngest person elected President up until that time, at the age of 46.

Clermont County was the home of the 43^rd Governor of Ohio, John M. Pattison (D), who served from January 8, 1906 until his death on June 18, 1906 at age 59, which was the shortest term for anyone holding this office.   He had also served in the US House of Representatives and the Ohio House and Senate.

Attorney, Hugh L Nichols (D) from New Richmond and Batavia served as the 32^nd Lt. Governor of Ohio from 1911 to 1913 when he was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court by then Governor James M. Cox (D).  Unfortunately, Nichols did not win election to the position in 1920.

From the early 1800’s through the 1960’s Clermont County was known in the political arena as  a bastion of Democrats.   The Democratic Party started losing County Offices to the Republicans in the 1970’s starting with the Sheriff, Clerk of Courts and the Auditor’s Offices.    It was in 1984 that the Democratic Party lost every County Office, with the exception of the Probate and Juvenile Court Judge position held by Judge Lawrence W. Carlier, who was unopposed in that race and held the position until 1990.  No Democrat has held a County or District Office in the County since 1990.  Many attribute this phenomenon to the fact of the increase cost of housing in Hamilton County and the influx of a conservative element from Hamilton County mushrooming over into Milford, Miami and Union Townships, coupled with the development in the County with the Eastgate Mall and surrounding area of Union Township, the largest Ford Plant in the world built in Batavia, and the extension of State Route 32.  The major development of Clermont County (Eastgate Mall, Ford Plant, Clermont Mercy Hospital, Clermont UC College) took place during the Administration of Republican Governor, James A. Rhodes.

The Clermont County Democratic Party has maintained a headquarters on Main Street in Batavia since the 1970’s.  It has continued to field qualified candidates even though Clermont County has seen the Republicans winning all county offices year after year since 1984.  The Clermont County Democratic Party does take pride in the fact that we have seen the election of President William Clinton (1992) and Barack Obama (2008) as well as Sherrod Brown who has served as Ohio Secretary of State, a US Congressman and presently serves as one of our US Senators.