 In the latter part of the 19th century , Ohio was deemed a crucial battleground state ; taking its electoral votes was thought essential for a Republican to win the White House . One way of , hopefully , assuring victory there was to nominate a son of Ohio . Between 1865 and 1929 , every Republican president who first gained his office by election ( that is , rather than succeeding on the death of his predecessor ) was born in Ohio . Deadlocked Republican conventions in 1876 , 1880 , and 1888 turned to men born in Ohio , and in each case the nominee won the presidency . Thus , any successful Ohio Republican was a plausible president . One of McKinley 's rivals among the Ohio contenders was Governor Joseph B. Foraker , but Foraker 's light dimmed when he was defeated for a third two @-@ year term in 1889 . 
