Ohio Association of Health Underwriters
 2008 Election Summary
November 5, 2008

 

OHIO STATEWIDE ELECTIONS

The unofficial November 4th election results show that both incumbent Republican Justices of the Ohio Supreme Court were easily re-elected receiving over 60% of the vote.  Justice Maureen O’Connor defeated Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Joseph Russo and Justice Evelyn Stratton defeated Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Juvenile Division Judge Peter Sikora.  This means that the Republicans retain their 7-0 majority.

In the race for Attorney General to fill the unexpired term of Democrat Marc Dann who resigned, current Democrat State Treasurer Richard Cordray won easily over Republican Michael Crites with 57% of the vote.  Governor Strickland will now be able to appoint a successor to Cordray as State Treasurer. 

 

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

In the U.S. House of Representatives there will be five new Ohio members.  They are:

District 1 (Cincinnati area) – Democrat State Representative Steve Driehaus narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Congressman Steve Chabot.
District 7 (Springfield & surrounding counties) – Republican State Senator Steve Austria was elected to this seat which became open as a result of the retirement of Republican Congressman David Hobson.
District 11 (Cleveland) – Democrat Marcia Fudge easily won this seat that became open due to the recent death of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
District 15 (Columbus area) – Republican State Senator Steve Stivers narrowly defeated Democrat Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy by 321 votes in this open seat.  An automatic recount is likely.
District 16 (Canton area) – Democrat State Senator John Boccieri defeated Republican State Senator Kirk Schuring with 54% of the vote.  This seat became open as a result of the retirement of Republican Congressman Ralph Regula.

 

OHIO STATE SENATE

Republicans retained their 21-12 majority.  There are 6 current Republican State Representatives who were elected to the Senate:  They are: House Speaker Jon Husted, Chris Widener, Jim Hughes, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Gibbs, and Tom Patton.  The other new Senator is Karen Gillmor who previously served in the State Senate.

 

OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Democrats appear to have picked up 7 seats in the Ohio House to take a 53-46 majority.  This paves the way for Representative Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) to become the next Speaker of the House. Of the 99 seats, 35 will be filled by a new member of the House. OAHU member Barbara Sears was elected to her 46th District House seat in the Toledo area. The unofficial results show that Democrats picked up 9 seats currently held by Republicans and Republicans picked up 2 seats currently held by Democrats.  The winners of these key races are:

District 16 (Cleveland area)
Republican Nan Baker narrowly defeated incumbent Democrat Jennifer Brady.

District 18 (Cleveland area)
Democrat Matt Patten won this seat which was vacated by Republican Tom Patton who was elected to the Senate.

District 19 (north & eastern Franklin County)
In this open seat previously held by a Republican, Democrat Marian Harris defeated Republican Dr. Brad Lewis by 12 votes, so this race will be subject to an automatic recount.

District 20 (eastern Franklin County)
Democrat Nancy Garland defeated incumbent Republican Jim McGregor.

District 22 (northwestern Franklin County)
In this open seat previously held by a Republican, Democrat John Carney defeated Republican Mike Keenan.

District 28 (Cincinnati/Hamilton County)
Democrat Connie Pillich won this seat vacated by former Republican Representative Jim Raussen.

District 42 (Summit County)
Newly appointed Republican Richard Nero was defeated by Democrat Mike Moran.

District 58 (Huron & parts of Seneca & Lorain Counties)
In the open seat previously held by a Democrat, Republican Terry Boose was elected.

District 63 (Lake County)
Democrat Mark Schneider defeated incumbent Republican Carol-Ann Schindel.

District 85 (Fayette, Pickaway & Ross Counties)
Democrat Ray Prior defeated incumbent Republican John Schlichter.

District 92 (Morgan, Athens, Meigs & part of Washington Counties)
In this open seat previously held by a Republican, Democrat Debbie Phillips defeated Republican Jill Thompson.

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