1982Final results
1982 election for U.S. Senate in Ohio
U.S. Senate · Ohio
Howard Metzenbaum (D) won with 56.7% of the vote, defeating Paul E. Pfeifer (R) by 15.5 points.
Howard MetzenbaumDemocrat · winner
56.7%1,923,767
Paul E. PfeiferRepublican
41.1%1,396,790
Alicia MerelIndependent
1.1%38,803
Philip HerzingLibertarian
1.1%36,103
3,395,463 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1982
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Howard MetzenbaumPaul E. Pfeifer
$3.4M
Raised by the campaign
$1M
$2.6M
Spent by the campaign
$1M
$0
Cash on hand
$0
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1982.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1982
The candidates
Howard Metzenbaum (D)Paul E. Pfeifer (R)
Also on the ballot: Alicia Merel (Independent), 1.1%; Philip Herzing (Libertarian), 1.1%