State Auto Financial (STFC) 10-Q 2008 Q3 Quarterly report

Exhibit 32.01

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of State Auto Financial Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Robert P. Restrepo, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/    Robert P. Restrepo, Jr.        

Robert P. Restrepo, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer

November 5, 2008

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to State Auto Financial Corporation and will be retained by State Auto Financial Corporation and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.