Gov. John Kasich won more than 62 percent of the vote against Democrat Ed FitzGerald in the race for governor. The win positions Kasich to possibly run for president in 2016. All incumbent state office holders - Auditor Dave Yost, Treasurer Josh Mandel, Secretary of State Jon Husted, Attorney General Mike DeWine and two Republican Supreme Court justices won re-election.
Republicans take back control of the U.S. Senate, expand House control
Riding a powerful wave of voter discontent, resurgent Republicans captured control of the Senate and tightened their grip on the House Tuesday night in elections certain to complicate President Barack Obama’s final two years in office. Speaker of the House John Boehner, easily re-elected to Ohio’s 8th District seat, is expected to run for a third term as speaker. Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell is expected to become the new Senate majority leader.
Ohio Democratic Party chairman steps down
Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern, who lost his Ohio House seat on Tuesday, announced he is stepping down as state party leader. His resignation comes after his party suffered back-to-back statewide sweeps.
Only 2 Democrats now in statewide office in Ohio
Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown are now the only Democrats holding statewide office in Ohio.
State Rep. Roland Winburn loses to Republican challenger Rezabek
Democratic state Rep. Roland Winburn lost his state House seat that covered Harrison Twp., Trotwood, western Montgomery County and all of Preble County. Republican Jeff Rezabek took the seat and was competitive in Montgomery County and won nearly 80 percent of the vote in Preble County.
State Sen. Beagle holds of Democratic challenge
State Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, successfully defended his Ohio Senate 5th District seat Tuesday night in one of the state legislature’s hardest fought and most expensive races.
Defending a seat that Republicans took from Democrats four years ago, Beagle had 57 percent the vote and Gillis had nearly 42 percent, according to partial, unofficial results on the Ohio Secretary of State website.
The Associated Press called the race for Beagle at about 10:35 p.m. Republicans control the state Senate 23-10.
Montgomery County Commission race is a close one
Democratic incumbent Dan Foley on Tuesday fought off a tough challenge in the Montgomery County Commission race from Republican Mike Nolan and independent candidate Gary Leitzell, according to unofficial results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
Foley has 45.7 percent of the vote with nearly 100 percent of the vote counted. Nolan, a former Miami Twp. trustee captured about 44.4 percent of the vote.
Leitzell, the former mayor of Dayton received less than 9.8 percent of the vote.
Huber Heights passes income tax for police; school levy fails
Huber Heights voters denied a request for new school funding for the sixth straight time Tuesday night, rejecting a 6.95-mill additional issue by a 57-43 ratio, according to unofficial results from the Montgomery County Board of Elections.
The previous levy rejections led Huber Heights City Schools to cut their budget from $66 million to $56 million last year. School officials were hoping a levy approval would allow them to restore more than $2.5 million in programs and services — reducing student pay-to-play fees, purchasing classroom materials and technology, and hiring teachers to reduce class sizes and reintroduce small-group reading intervention.
But voters clearly opposed what would have been a $243 annual tax increase for the owner of a $100,000 home.
More than $2 million in planned cuts were averted in Huber Heights after voters approved the city’s request for a 0.25 percent, 10-year earned income tax increase for public safety.
Warren County Career Center levy fails in close election
Voters appear to have rejected a permanent 3.5-mill replacement operating levy sought by the Warren County Career Center by a ratio of 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent, according to final, unofficial results from a four-county area.
Large school districts such as Kettering, Beavercreek and Northmont pass renewal levies
Northmont schools voters approved a 9-mill renewal operating levy and Superintendent Sarah Zatik emphasized that the bond issue voters approved in 2011 was for building costs, making this levy important to support daily operating costs.
Kettering Schools District voters approved a renewal of a five-year, 6.9-mill school operating levy by a 67-33 ratio. It was the first levy under new Superintendent Scott Inskeep, hired after Kettering’s school board ousted the previous superintendent and treasurer. Despite the turmoil, Kettering again ranked in the top 10 in the state in student growth last year.
Miamisburg’s 8.18-mill substitute levy passed. Substitute levies, which are rare in Ohio, allow schools to collect more revenue in future years if there is new construction, while owners of existing properties would continue to pay the same amount.
Beavercreek schools’ 1-mill levy for permanent improvements to facilities was approved by voters by a 58-42 ratio.
One year after voters rejected a different Jefferson Twp. renewal levy, the school district saw their larger 9.5-mill renewal levy approved by a 57-43 ratio.
New lawmaker to be one of youngest in Ohio
Another new face in the statehouse will be University of Dayton law student Niraj Antani. The 23-year-old will be one of the youngest in the House after being elected to replace Rep. Terry Blair, who died earlier this year, in a district representing southern Montgomery County.
“I think the legislature should reflect the way the people look, so I believe my generation does deserve a voice to fight for my children or grandchildren,” Antani said.
McGee loses seat on Montgomery County court
Challenger Richard Skelton appears to have defeated incumbent Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Frances McGee in a rare big-money judicial race.
Skelton, who loaned his campaign $240,000 and spent a lot of money on television commercials, led McGee 53 percent to 47 percent with 100 percent of precincts reporting.
Skelton spent much more money campaigning — including TV spots that focused only on him — than did McGee, a Democrat. Skelton loaned his campaign nearly a quarter of a million dollars, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Montgomery County Board of Elections. During the most recent reporting period Skelton, who ran as a Republican, raised $27,402 in contributions and spent $209,286.
McGee did not loan herself money for this campaign, but did carry a $60,500 balance on a loan she made to her campaign in 2008. During the most recent reporting period she raised $16,850 and spent $41,841
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