The political pundits predicted a Republican landslide for the 2010 General Election. As it turned out, it was one of epic proportions. While it is still too early to completely evaluate the results of the election, most of the gains by the Democrats in 2006 and 2008 were reversed in yesterday's elections.
At the federal level, the Republicans narrowed the gap in the U.S. Senate and won control of the U.S. House, which had been controlled by the Democrats since January 2007. The Senate requires a 60 vote majority to stop any filibuster and move forward with a legislative vote being debated on the Senate floor. The Democrats enjoyed a 60 seat filibuster-proof majority until the untimely death of Senator Kennedy and the improbable election of a Republican, Senator Scott Brown, to replace Senator Kennedy. Beginning in January 2011, it appears that the Democrats will have a slim majority of 51 seats, which will greatly change the dynamics in Congress.
In Ohio, the Republicans won all five statewide or constitutional offices, including the coveted Governorship. Ohio typically re-elects its Governor. The last time Ohio failed to re-elect a Governor was in 1974. The Republicans also reclaimed control of the Ohio House of Representatives, which like the U.S. Congress, has been under Democratic control since 2007.
The following is a breakdown of various election results:
* Denotes Incumbent
Bold denotes winner
U.S. Senate:
Ohio's Newest Senator: Rob Portman
The outcome of the race for U.S. Senate was not a surprise, as Rob Portman (R) was leading Democratic challenger, Lee Fisher, throughout the entire campaign. Rob Portman is a former Congressman who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2005. Portman also served in two federal Cabinet positions under President George W. Bush's administration, including U.S. Trade Representative and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Lee Fisher is the current Lieutenant Governor and Director of the Department of Development. Mr. Fisher also served as Ohio's Attorney General from 1991 through 1995.
Republican Senator-Elect Rob Portman will be joining Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown in the U.S. Senate.
U.S. House of Representatives:
Ohio currently has 18 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and all members run for re-election every two years. In these races, five Democratic incumbents were defeated, thus the Ohio delegation will shift from 10 Democrats and 8 Republicans to 5 Democrats and 13 Republicans. This change in control will bring additional challenges to the redistricting process when Ohio loses at least one, and probably two, Congressional districts based on the loss of population as determined by the 2010 census. A bonus for Ohio is that Congressman John Boehner (R) will in all likelihood become the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
1st Congressional District - Challenger wins
Two years ago, incumbent, Steve Driehaus (D)*, defeated long-time Congressman Steve Chabot (R). Facing off again this year, the voters returned Chabot to Congress.
2nd Congressional District
Incumbent Jean Schmidt (R)* retains her seat in the race against Surya Yalamanchili (D), former manager at Procter & Gamble.
3rd Congressional District
Incumbent Mike Turner (R)* defeated Joe Roberts (D).
4th Congressional District
Incumbent Jim Jordan (R)* defeated Doug Litt (D).
5th Congressional District
Incumbent Bob Latta (R)* defeated Caleb Finkenbiner (D).
6th Congressional District, Challenger wins
Bill Johnson (R) defeated incumbent Charlie Wilson (D)*.
7th Congressional District
Incumbent Steve Austria (R)* defeated Bill Connor (D).
8th Congressional District
Incumbent Minority Leader John Boehner (R)* defeated Justin Coussoule (D).
9th Congressional District
Incumbent Marcy Kaptur (D)* defeated Rich Iott (R).
10th Congressional District
Incumbent Dennis Kucinich (D)* defeated Peter Corrigan (R).
11th Congressional District
Incumbent Marcia Fudge (D)* defeated Thomas Pekarek (R).
12th Congressional District
Incumbent Pat Tiberi (R)* defeated Paula Brooks (D).
13th Congressional District
Incumbent Betty Sutton (D)* defeated Tom Ganley (R).
14th Congressional District
Incumbent Steven LaTourette (R)* defeated Bill O'Neill (D).
15th Congressional District - Challenger wins
In 2008, Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy defeated Steve Stivers (R) in a recount with 48% of the total vote. This year, Stivers defeated Kilroy (D)*.
16th Congressional District - Challenger wins
Incumbent John Boccieri (D*) lost to businessman Jim Renacci (R).
17th Congressional District
Incumbent Tim Ryan (D)* defeated Jim Graham (R).
18th Congressional District - Challenger wins
Current State Senator Bob Gibbs (R) defeated incumbent Zack Space (D)*.
Ohio's Constitutional Offices
Governor
Incumbent Governor Ted Strickland (D)* was defeated by former U.S. Congressman John Kasich (R) in a very close race, 49% to 47%. Kasich served in the Ohio Senate for four years and in the U.S. House of Representatives for 18 years. While in the House, Kasich served as Chairman of the Budget Committee. Before his Governorship, Strickland was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years.
Treasurer
Incumbent Treasurer Kevin Boyce (D)* lost to Josh Mandel (R), 55% to 40%. Boyce was appointed by Governor Strickland in December of 2008 after then-Treasurer Richard Cordray was appointed Attorney General. Prior to being appointed Treasurer, Boyce served on the Columbus City Council as President Pro Tem and Chairman of the Finance and Zoning Committees. Josh Mandel is currently serving in his second term as State Representative. Mandel is a veteran of the War in Iraq, serving two tours of duty in Iraq as a U.S. Marine Intelligence Specialist.
Secretary of State
Jon Husted (R) won the race for Secretary of State over Mary Ellen O'Shaughnessy (D), 55% to 41%. O'Shaughnessy is the current Clerk of Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Prior to serving as Clerk, O'Shaughnessy was elected three times as a Columbus City Council Member, serving as chair of the Public Service and Transportation Committee. Jon Husted previously served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for eight years and Speaker of the Ohio House from 2005-2009. He is currently a member of the Ohio Senate.
Auditor
Candidate Dave Yost (R) defeated David Pepper (D), 51% to 45%. Pepper is a former councilman for the City of Cincinnati and is currently a Hamilton County Commissioner. Candidate Dave Yost served as Delaware County Auditor from 1999 to 2003 and is currently serving his second term as Delaware County's Prosecuting Attorney.
Attorney General
The incumbent Attorney General Richard Cordray (D)* was defeated by the better-known Mike DeWine (R), 48% to 46%. Cordray served as the Treasurer of the State of Ohio and as Treasurer of Franklin County, Ohio. He also previously served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives and as the first Ohio State Solicitor under then-Attorney General Lee Fisher. Republican Mike DeWine served in the Ohio Senate for two years, the U.S. House of Representatives for eight years, and the U.S. Senate from 1995-2007. He also served as the 59th Lt. Governor of Ohio.
Ohio Supreme Court
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court - Challenger wins
Eric Brown* (D)
Maureen O'Connor (R)
Justice of the Supreme Court
Mary Jane Trapp (D)
Judith Lanzinger* (R)
Justice of the Supreme Court
Paul E. Pfeifer* (R)
Ohio Legislature
Ohio Senate
District 1
Erik M. Cranmer (D)
Steve Buehrer* (R)
District 3
Mark Pfeifer (D)
Kevin Bacon (R)
William Yarbrough (Libertarian)
District 5 - Challenger wins
Fred Strahorn* (D)
Bill Beagle (R)
District 7
Sam Pettinichi (D)
Shannon Jones* (R)
District 9
Eric H. Kearney* (D)
Deborah M. McKinney (R)
Jessica L. Mears (Libertarian)
District 11
Edna Brown* (D)
Tom Waniewski (R)
District 13 - Challenger wins
Sue Morano* (D)
Gayle L. Manning (R)
District 15
Charleta B. Tavares (D)
Alicia Healy (R)
District 17
Justin Fallon (D)
David T. Daniels (R)
District 19
Neil Patel (D)
Kris Jordan* (R)
District 21
Shirley A. Smith* (D)
Burrell A. Jackson (R)
District 23
Michael J. Skindell* (D)
Dave Morris (R)
District 25
Nina Turner* (D)
District 27
Frank C. Comunale (D)
Frank LaRose (R)
District 29
Richard D. Reinbold Jr. (D)
Scott Oelslager (R)
District 31
Dennis A. Lupher (D)
Tim Schaffer* (R)
District 33
Joe Schiavoni* (D)
Matt Lewis (R)
John K. Fockler Jr. (Libertarian)
Ohio House of Representatives
District 1 - Challenger wins
Linda S. Bolon* (D)
Craig Newbold (R)
District 2
Richard Bird (D)
Andrew O. Brenner (R)
District 3
Ron Amstutz* (R)
District 4
Connie Miller (D)
Matt Huffman* (R)
District 5
Gerald L. Stebelton* (R)
District 6
Jackie Brown (D)
Randy Gardner* (R)
District 7
Kenny Yuko* (D)
Tony Hocevar (R)
District 8
Armond Budish* (D)
Jerry V. Powell (R)
District 9
Barbara Boyd* (D)
Charles Perkel (R)
District 10
Bill Patmon (D)
District 11
Sandra Williams* (D)
Roz McAllister (R)
District 12
John E. Barnes Jr. (D)
District 13
Nickie J. Antonio (D)
District 14
Mike Foley* (D)
Kevin J. Burke (R)
District 15
Timothy J. DeGeeter* (D)
District 16
Jennifer L. Brady (D)
Nan A. Baker* (R)
District 17
Kelli Kay Perk (D)
Marlene Anielski (R)
David Macko (Libertarian)
District 18 - Challenger wins
Matt Patten* (D)
Mike Dovilla (R)
District 19
Marian L. Harris* (D)
Anne Gonzales (R)
Michael Johnston (Libertarian)
District 20
Nancy J. Garland* (D)
Matt Carle (R)
Lawrence Binsky (Libertarian)
Jacquelyn K. Thompson (Write In)
District 21
David Robinson (D)
Mike Duffey (R)
District 22
John Patrick Carney* (D)
Angel R. Rhodes (R)
Corey Ansel (Green)
Mark Noble (Libertarian)
District 23
Steven Harp (D)
Cheryl L. Grossman* (R)
Casey D. Borders (Libertarian)
District 24
Ted Celeste* (D)
Nathan Larger (R)
District 25
Michael Stinziano (D)
Scott Alan Hubbard (R) - Withdrew
District 26
Tracy Heard* (D)
Joseph A. Healy (R)
District 27
W. Carlton Weddington* (D)
Meagan Cyrus (R)
District 28 - TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Connie Pillich* (D)
Mike Wilson (R)
Bryant Callaghan (Libertarian)
District 29
Liz Ping (D)
Louis W. Blessing Jr.* (R)
District 30
Richard G. Luken (D)
Bob Mecklenborg* (R)
District 31
Denise Driehaus* (D)
Mike Robison (R)
District 32
Dale Mallory* (D)
Erik Nebergall (R)
Ryan Printy (Libertarian)
District 33
Alicia Reece* (D)
Jim Smith (R)
Curtis A. Wells (Independent)
Jillian Mack (Libertarian)
District 34
Max Kinman (D)
Peter Stautberg* (R)
District 35
Marcia Garrison (D)
Ron Maag* (R)
District 36
Carl D. Fisher Jr. (D)
Michael E. Henne (R)
Cheryl K. Watson (Independent)
District 37
Steven C. Byington (D)
Peggy Lehner* (R)
District 38
John R. Doll (D)
Terry Blair* (R)
District 39
Clayton R. Luckie* (D)
Jeffrey L. Wellbaum (R) - Withdrew
Harlene Holland (Independent)
District 40
Roland Winburn* (D)
David H. Wilson (Independent)
District 41 - Challenger wins
Brian G. Williams* (D)
Lynn Slaby (R)
David S. Finley (Libertarian)
District 42 - Challenger wins
Mike Moran* (D)
Kristina Daley Roegner (R)
John E. Hoover (Libertarian) - Withdrew
District 43 - Challenger wins
Stephen Dyer* (D)
Todd M. McKenney (R)
District 44
Vernon Sykes* (D)
Josh Sines (R)
Kurtis S.F. Liston (Libertarian)
District 45
Zack Milkovich (D)
Charles Lasher (R)
District 46
Harry Barlos (D)
Barbara R. Sears* (R)
District 47
Teresa Fedor* (D)
Rick Bush (R)
Joseph M. Pfeiffer (Libertarian)
District 48
Michael Ashford (D)
Carolyn J. Eyre (R)
Schylar M. Meadows (Independent)
District 49
Matthew A. Szollosi* (D)
Jeff Wingate (R)
District 50
Todd D. Bosley (D)
Todd A. Snitchler* (R)
District 51
Andrew Haines (D)
Kirk Schuring* (R)
District 52
Stephen D. Slesnick* (D)
Travis Secrest (R)
District 53
James C. Shew (D)
Timothy S. Derickson* (R)
District 54
Bruce Carter (D)
Courtney E. Combs* (R)
Arnold Engel (Independent)
District 55
Suzi Rubin (D)
Bill Coley* (R)
District 56
Dan Ramos (D)
Henry S. Lewandowski Jr. (R)
District 57
Matt Lundy* (D)
Rae Lynn Brady (R)
Josh R. Robertson (Libertarian)
District 58
Gregory S. Davidson (D)
Terry R. Boose* (R)
Bob Williams (Libertarian)
District 59
Ronald V. Gerberry* (D)
Mike Pestian (R)
Patrick Manning (Libertarian)
District 60
Robert F. Hagan* (D)
Daniel R. Thimons (R)
District 61
Mark D. Okey* (D)
Michael Foit (R)
District 62
Lorraine M. Fende* (D)
David M. Fiebig (R)
District 63 - Challenger wins
Mark A. Schneider* (D)
Ron Young (R)
District 64
Tom Leston* (D)
Albert J. Haberstroh Jr. (R)
Randy Law (Independent)
District 65
Sean J. O'Brien (D)
Geno Capone (R)
Werner Lange (Independent)
District 66
Barry A. Cox (D)
Joe R. Uecker* (R)
District 67
Anne K. Howard (D)
Peter Beck* (R)
Robert E. Waters (Libertarian)
District 68
Kathleen Clyde (D)
W. Roak Zeller (R)
Daniel Cartwright (Constitution)
Richard A. Duncan (Independent)
District 69
Jack Schira (D)
William G. Batchelder* (R)
District 70
Michael Stewart Watters (D)
Jarrod B. Martin* (R)
District 71
Nathan W. McMann (D)
Jay Hottinger* (R)
District 72
Gregory D. Krouse (D)
Ross W. McGregor* (R)
District 73
Jay Goyal* (D)
David D. Nitzsche (R)
District 74
David J. Pilliod (D)
Bruce W. Goodwin* (R)
District 75
Cletus Schindler (D)
Lynn R. Wachtmann* (R)
District 76
Jeffrey S. Detmer (D)
Cliff Hite* (R)
Steven Gossard (Independent)
District 77
Jim Zehringer* (R)
District 78
Anthony Ehresmann (D)
John Adams* (R)
District 79
Howard Guy Payne (D)
Richard N. Adams* (R)
District 80
Dennis E. Murray* (D)
Jeff Krabill (R)
Judy Kayden (Libertarian)
District 81
Benjamin E. Nutter (D)
Rex Arthur Damschroder (R)
Bill Hrabak (Constitution)
District 82
Jeffrey A. McClain* (D)
District 83
Dave Burke* (R)
District 84
Aaron T. Kilbarger (D)
Robert D. Hackett* (R)
District 85 - Challenger wins
Raymond A. Pryor* (D)
Bob Peterson (R)
District 86
Bill Horne (D)
Cliff Rosenberger (R)
Jacob Dawson (Libertarian)
District 87
Clay Baker - Withdrew (D)
Fred Deel (D)
John A. Carey, Jr. (R)
Tim Sanders (Libertarian)
District 88
Danny R. Bubp* (R)
District 89
Ron Hadsell (D)
Terry A. Johnson (R)
Dennis Lambert (Green)
District 90
John T. Ryerson (D)
Margaret Ann Ruhl* (R)
District 91 - Challenger wins
Dan Dodd* (D)
Bill Hayes (R)
Chad Ricketts (Libertarian)
District 92
Debbie Phillips* (D)
Mike Hunter (R)
Ty Collinsworth (Green)
District 93
Linda Secrest (D)
Andy Thompson (R)
District 94
Troy Balderson* (R)
District 95
Lou Gentile (D)
Mark T. Clark (R)
District 96 - Challenger wins
Joshua E. O'Farrell* (D)
Al Landis (R)
District 97
Edward Powers (D)
Dave Hall* (R)
Gary Aukerman (Independent)
District 98
Mary A. Briggs (D)
Timothy J. Grendell (R)
Bob Cannon (Constitution)
Mark Saric (Independent)
District 99 - TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Deborah A. Newcomb* (D)
Casey Kozlowski (R)
Tammy Roesch (Independent)
