DaytonDailyNews.com

WASHINGTON — Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy will have about one month less than the rest of her congressional colleagues to hire a staff, find housing and prepare for the 111th Congress.

And she's perfectly fine with that.

Kilroy, a Franklin County commissioner, won what has been the longest congressional race of the 2008 political season Sunday, Dec. 7.

In an outcome stalled by legal issues over provisional ballots, Kilroy beat state Sen. Steve Stivers, a Republican, for the open 15th District seat near Columbus vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington.

The final margin was 2,311 votes out of more than 304,000 cast.

"We're working on transition issues," Kilroy said Monday, Dec. 8. "Now, we have to work a little faster to catch up with other members. But we're relieved. It's a stress relief, winning."

With the win, Ohio Democrats will hold 10 congressional seats to eight for Republicans, the first Democratic majority since 1994.

"The new majority Democratic state delegation, elected on a legislative map drawn by Republicans... makes a clear statement about the will of Ohioans," said Alex Goepfert, a spokesman for the Ohio Democratic Party.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester, said the political makeup of the congressional delegation matters little.

"Ohio's congressional delegation has a long history of working together on key issues impacting Ohio's families and small businesses," he said.

Kilroy is one of three new Ohio Democrats to Congress.

Democrat Steve Driehaus beat longtime U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot in Ohio's 1st District — which includes Cincinnati. And state Sen. John Boccieri, D-New Middletown, won the open seat vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Navarre.