Ted Strickland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ted Strickland
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Strickland in 2008
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| 68th Governor of Ohio | |
| In office January 8, 2007 – January 10, 2011 |
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| Lieutenant | Lee Fisher |
| Preceded by | Bob Taft |
| Succeeded by | John Kasich |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 6th district |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Cremeans |
| Succeeded by | Charlie Wilson |
| In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Bob McEwen |
| Succeeded by | Frank Cremeans |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Theodore Strickland
August 4, 1941 Lucasville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Frances Smith
(m. 1987) |
| Education | Asbury University (BA) University of Kentucky (MA, PhD) Asbury Theological Seminary (MDiv) |
| Signature |  |
Theodore "Ted" Strickland (born August 4, 1941) is an American politician. He served as the 68th governor of Ohio from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
Before becoming governor, he was a U.S. Representative for Ohio's 6th district. He served two terms in Congress: from 1993 to 1995 and again from 1997 to 2007.
In the 2006 election for governor, Strickland won with 60% of the votes. He defeated Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. He tried to be re-elected in 2010 but lost to John Kasich. As of 2024, Ted Strickland is the last Democrat to be governor of Ohio.
In 2014, Strickland became president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. This group researches and supports progressive public policies. He left this job in 2015. Later, he ran for the United States Senate in 2016 but lost.
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Early Life and Education
Ted Strickland was born in Lucasville, Ohio. His parents were Carrie and Charles Orville Strickland. He was one of nine children in his family.
He graduated from Northwest High School in 1959. Ted was the first person in his family to go to college. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Asbury College in 1963. He also studied psychology.
In 1966, he received a Master of Arts degree in guidance counseling. This was from the University of Kentucky. In 1967, he earned a Master of Divinity from the Asbury Theological Seminary. He later got his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Kentucky in 1980.
Ted Strickland is married to Frances Strickland. She is an educational psychologist.
Before his political career, Strickland worked in different roles. He was a counseling psychologist at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. He also managed a children's home. He taught psychology at Shawnee State University. Ted Strickland is also an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church. He served as a minister in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Becoming a U.S. Representative
Strickland first ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976. He ran again in 1978 and 1980. He lost these early elections.
In 1992, he ran for the 6th Congressional District seat again. He faced Bob McEwen, who had some political challenges. The district was very large, covering many different areas of Ohio.
Despite a tough campaign, Strickland won the election on November 3, 1992. He won by a small number of votes. He started serving in Congress in January 1993.
Time in Congress
Strickland lost his seat in the 1994 election to Frank Cremeans. However, he won it back two years later in 1996. He started his second term in Congress in January 1997.
He faced a strong opponent in 1998 but won again. In his next three elections, he won by large amounts. In 2004, he ran unopposed, meaning no one ran against him.
While in Congress, Strickland served on important committees. These included the Energy and Commerce Committee. He also served on the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Running for Governor in 2006
In 2006, Ted Strickland ran for Governor of Ohio. The current governor, Bob Taft, could not run again. Strickland chose Lee Fisher as his running mate. Fisher was a former Ohio Attorney General.
Strickland won the Democratic primary election on May 2, 2006. He received 80 percent of the votes. Many groups supported him, including the Fraternal Order of Police.
In the general election in November, he ran against Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell. He also faced candidates from the Libertarian and Green parties. Strickland won the election on November 7, 2006. He got 60% of the votes. He became governor on January 8, 2007.
As Governor of Ohio
As governor, Ted Strickland worked on many important issues for Ohio.
Economy and Budget
In 2007, Ohio lawmakers approved a $52 billion budget. This budget was for 2008 and 2009. In 2008, the state faced less money coming in than expected. Strickland ordered cuts of $733 million in state spending. This included reducing jobs and closing some state mental hospitals.
He made more budget cuts later that year. In 2009, he signed a law that delayed a planned income tax cut. This helped fill a gap in the state budget.
During his time as governor, Ohio's "rainy day fund" was used. This fund is money saved for emergencies. It went from $1 billion down to 89 cents to help balance the state budget. Some people believe Ohio would have had a $7 billion deficit without these actions.
In 2008, he signed a law about renewable energy. It said that 25% of Ohio's electricity should come from renewable sources by 2025. He also supported the renewal of the Third Frontier program in 2010. This program helps create jobs and new technologies.
Education Initiatives
In 2007, Strickland signed an order to unite Ohio's higher education system. This created the University System of Ohio.
He also wanted to reduce funding for school vouchers. These vouchers help students attend private schools. He was against federal programs that only taught abstinence in sex education.
Support for Veterans
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In 2007, Strickland signed a law that made military veterans' retirement benefits tax-free in Ohio. He also created a council to help set up the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. This became a cabinet-level agency.
In 2008, he created the Ohio G.I. Promise. This program allows all veterans using the G.I. bill to pay in-state tuition at Ohio's public colleges. He also vetoed a law that would have given small cash bonuses to veterans of recent wars.
Healthcare Changes
Strickland signed an order that required insurance companies to offer a specific option. This option allowed policyholders to keep unmarried children on their insurance until age 28.
Social Issues and Laws
As governor, Strickland made decisions about serious legal punishments. He delayed some executions to review cases. He also changed five death sentences to life in prison.
In 2008, he signed Ohio's castle doctrine law. This law states that a person is presumed to be acting in self-defense if they shoot someone who unlawfully enters their home or car. The National Rifle Association supported this law.
During his term, a change to the state's constitution passed. This allowed casinos to be built in four Ohio cities. Even though he was against gambling at first, he considered it as a way to get more money for the state.
Vice-Presidential Talk
In 2008, some people thought Ted Strickland might be chosen as a Vice Presidential candidate. He said he would not accept the position if it was offered.
Strickland spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He gave a memorable speech. He criticized President George W. Bush and John McCain.
2010 Re-election Campaign
Strickland ran for re-election as governor in 2010. He chose Yvette McGee Brown as his running mate. She was a former juvenile court judge.
He faced Republican John Kasich and his running mate, Mary Taylor. Kasich defeated Strickland by two percentage points.
After Being Governor
In 2011, the new governor, John Kasich, signed a bill. This bill aimed to limit the collective bargaining rights of Ohio public employees. Strickland helped gather signatures to challenge this law. The petition put the issue on the November 2011 ballot. Voters then chose to repeal the law with over 60% of the votes.
In 2012, Strickland became a resident fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics. He also spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. He spoke against the policies of Republican nominee Mitt Romney.
In 2013, President Obama nominated Strickland to be a representative to the United Nations. However, his confirmation was delayed by Republicans in the Senate.
In 2014, Strickland became president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. He left this job in 2015. In 2024, he signed a letter with other former governors. The letter urged current governors to certify their states' votes after the November election.
Political Views
Climate Change
As Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland supported laws about renewable energy. He said these laws "helped address the issue of climate change." In 2013, he stated that "the debate on whether climate change exists is over." He believed the focus should be on how climate change affects communities. In 2015, he said, "I believe climate change is a problem; we've got to transition."
2016 U.S. Senate Election
On February 25, 2015, Strickland announced he would run for the United States Senate. He ran against the current Republican senator, Rob Portman. Former President Bill Clinton supported Strickland's campaign.
In September 2016, reports said Strickland's campaign was struggling. Some major political groups stopped funding his advertising. They chose to focus on other Senate races instead.
Strickland lost the 2016 general election to Portman by a large difference. Portman received 58% of the votes, while Strickland received 37%.
Images for kids
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Ted Strickland's signature.
