Davidson beat Seven Fought, a Democrat from Springfield,68.83 to 26.98 percent, according to unofficial results from the county boards of elections within the congressional district. Green Party candidate Derrick James Hendricks had 4.19 percent of the vote.
The 8th is considered the state’s most conservative district, including all of Butler, Clark, Darke, Miami and Preble counties, and the southernmost part of Mercer County. There are roughly 723,000 residents within the district.
In March, Davidson, 46, was one of 15 Republicans looking to be the party’s nominee to fill Boehner’s unexpired term, which he vacated when he resigned in October 2015. Davidson won that race and cruised to victory in a June special general election.
The Republican businessman and former Army Ranger is a member of the Jim Jordan-led Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers that’s been credited with forcing Bohener’s early retirement.
The lesson to be taken from this election year, Davidson said, is that the American people want change.
“The clear sense of the public is we’re frustrated with the political status quo and we’re anxious for results,” Davidson said.
The top priority for Davidson and House Republicans is to “fix the health-care system” as changes to the Affordable Care Act, commonly referenced as Obamacare, “don’t seem to be working.” He said young people are worried about the service on the debt and it appears to be heading toward bankrupting the country.
“I don’t care what you call it, we just have to fix the system,” Davidson said. “I think the real solution is it’s going to take some real collaboration.”
And “throwing money” at the health-care system isn’t the answer. He said House Republicans won’t invest any additional money.
“The biggest thing is we’re going to be solving problems,” he said. “It needs to be data-driven and focused on solutions.”
Fought, 62, was elected in a special Democratic Party primary in September to fill the vacancy created when Corey Foister, 26, formerly of Fairfield, withdrew from the race in late July. State law specified a special election must be held since it was more than 90 days before the general election even though just one person was certified to be on the ballot.
Fought called Davidson to concede the race less than an hour after the polls closed.
“I wished him the best going forward,” Fought said.
As far as what’s next for him Fought said, “It’s not time to talk about that. This is Warren Davidson’s time.”
Fought said he enjoyed his time on the campaign trail, calling it “a good experience.” But he said “these are difficult times for our country” and that there are “difficult challenges” the United States must face moving forward, including the economy and international terrorism.
He also said we need to be “a more civil society where people treat others with more respect. That’s on us.”
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