I’m predicting a pretty big for Republican candidates across Ohio, starting at the top with a narrow victory by John Kasich for governor.

How well Kasich does will ultimately set the table for other statewide officials who appear on ballots.

Of course if Kasich loses, the GOP wave likely won’t be so big, but I’m anticipating it will be.

Maybe people aren’t in love with the Republican Party so soon after the 2008 presidential election, rather they want to kick out the incumbents — something that is common when times are tough.

What that said, here are my other picks:

Ohio Auditor: Dave Yost (Republican)

Ohio Attorney General: Richard Cordray (Democrat)

Ohio Secretary of State: John Husted (Republican)

Ohio Treasurer: Josh Mandel (Republican)

U.S. Senate: Rob Portman (Republican)

U.S. Congress District 14: Steve LaTourette (Republican)

Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice: Maureen O’Conner (Republican)

Ohio Supreme Court: Judith Lanzinger (Republican)

Here’s my upset special ...
11th District Court of Appeals: Thomas Wright (Democrat). I think Wright will win big in Trumbull, Ashtabula and Portage Counties to overtake Eugene Lucci (Republican) who will win Lake and Geauga counties.

Other local picks are ...
State Rep. 62nd District: Lorraine M. Fende (Democrat)

State Rep. 63rd District: This is probably the toughest race to pick, but since I have to make a decision, I think by the slimmest of margins Ron Young (Republican) will beat incumbent Mark Schneider (Democrat) ... note this race will be very close and it might come down to provisional ballots counted later.

State Rep. 98th District: Tim Grendell (Republican)

Lake County commissioner: Daniel P. Troy (Democrat)

Lake County auditor: Edward H. Zupancic (Republican)

Cuyahoga County Executive: Matt Dolan (Republican)

Check back to see how I did.

-- John Arthur Hutchison, JHutchison@News-Herald.com