Columnist Reveals Favorite Ohio Governor and Senator

Ted Diadiun reflects on the state's political leaders over the past 50 years.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 9:55am

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Columnist Ted Diadiun shares his picks for favorite Ohio governor and senator, which differ from the overwhelming choices of readers. Diadiun argues that while the state has produced many competent politicians, it has lacked truly inspiring leaders in recent decades, with the possible exception of John Glenn. Diadiun's choices are former Governor James A. Rhodes and the late Senator Robert A. Taft.

Why it matters

Diadiun's perspective provides an interesting counterpoint to the reader survey results, highlighting the subjective nature of evaluating political leaders and the differing criteria people may use to determine their 'favorites.' His analysis also touches on Ohio's historical significance in national politics and the state's struggle to produce standout gubernatorial and senatorial candidates in recent times.

The details

Diadiun found the reader survey question about favorite Ohio governor and senator to be an 'irresistible thought exercise,' particularly when considering 'substantive' leaders. He argues that the roster of candidates over the past 50 years has been 'fairly undistinguished,' with 'competent caretakers' who failed to make a significant impact. Diadiun's picks, in contrast, are former Governor James A. Rhodes, who he says 'got things done' by expanding infrastructure and state services, and the late Senator Robert A. Taft, whom Diadiun describes as a principled Republican leader.

  • Diadiun's column was published on March 15, 2026.
  • The reader survey referenced in the column was conducted earlier in March 2026.

The players

Ted Diadiun

A member of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.

George Voinovich

A Republican who served as Ohio's governor from 1991 to 1998 and was the overwhelming favorite among readers for that position.

Sherrod Brown

A Democrat who served three terms as Ohio's senator, ending with his defeat in 2024, and was the readers' choice for that position.

James A. Rhodes

A four-term Ohio governor who Diadiun and Mary Anne Sharkey, a veteran Ohio political journalist, consider their favorite for the position.

Robert A. Taft

A Republican senator from Ohio whose tenure ended with his death in 1953, and Diadiun's pick for favorite senator.

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What they’re saying

“Well … there was one.”

— Ted Diadiun (cleveland.com)

“John Glenn – square-jawed, clear-eyed, highly decorated, courageous Marine pilot, heroic astronaut, the first American to orbit the earth, four-term senator – struck many of us both in Ohio and around the country as made to order for the White House. But as bold and decisive as he was in war and space, he was the opposite as a politician – cautious and unexciting.”

— Ted Diadiun (cleveland.com)

“Among much else, as Sharkey points out, Rhodes built up the Appalachian Highway system in southern Ohio, led the establishment of local airports in each of the state's counties, expanded the community college system by more than 20 while vowing to 'put a college education within 25 miles of every boy and girl in Ohio,' re-energized the state fair, revolutionized Ohio's state park system, brought the Honda plant to Marysville, and was one of the first governors to establish a trade relationship with China.”

— Ted Diadiun (cleveland.com)

The takeaway

Diadiun's analysis highlights the challenge of finding truly inspiring political leaders, even in a state with a rich history of producing national figures. His contrarian choices for favorite governor and senator suggest that the criteria people use to evaluate political leaders can vary widely, and that the 'favorites' are not always the most well-known or popular figures.