2024 Primary Election Results and Analysis

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Overview

Ohio held its Primary Election on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Featuring several crowded races and many incumbents facing challengers, election night yielded some interesting results with fairly low voter turnout of about 1.1 million Ohioans voting out of 7.9 million registered electors.

As anticipated, at the top of the Ohio primary ballot, Ohio voters in Democratic and Republican primaries selected President Joe Biden (D) and former President Donald Trump (R) as the winner of Ohio’s presidential primary races.

Below is an analysis of the U.S. Senate primary, the congressional primaries, and the many Ohio House and Ohio Senate primaries. All results noted in this memorandum are based on the preliminary, unofficial results.

Summary of 2024 Primary Election Results

U.S. Senate

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Cleveland) will face Cleveland-area car dealer and businessman Bernie Moreno, who prevailed in a three-way Republican primary. Moreno defeated State Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) and Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R-Upper Arlington). Former President Trump’s influence on the Republican Party remained apparent when his endorsement catapulted Mr. Moreno into the lead in public polls and, ultimately, with an 18-percentage point win on Tuesday with Mr. Moreno winning all of Ohio’s 88 counties along his path to primary victory.

Senator Brown has won tough reelection challenges previously, but Ohio Republicans are hoping 2024 is a banner year for the GOP, allowing them to finally defeat the three-term Senator.  This race will be one of the most watched and competitive races in the country with the control of the United States likely hanging in the balance.

U.S. House of Representatives.

Several of Ohio’s congressional districts had crowded Republican primaries. State Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township), thanks in part to a late breaking endorsement from former President Trump shortly before voting began on Election Day, defeated former State Rep. Craig Riedel (R-Defiance) and will face Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo), the current longest serving member of Congress in the nation.

Republican Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-Cincinnati) announced his intention to retire earlier this year, resulting in a crowded, Republican primary of 11 candidates. With so many candidates, David J. Taylor, an attorney and businessman from Clermont County, won the race with only 25.4% of the vote. The district is heavily Republican and therefore Mr. Taylor is expected to win in November.

Former Congressman Bill Johnson (R-Marietta) resigned to become the President of Youngstown State University, creating a special election to fill his current term. Governor DeWine set the special primary for the 6th congressional district seat to be held on Ohio’s Primary Election date. The special election for the congressional seat is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, 2024, with the winner serving the remainder of Congressman Johnson’s term. State Senator Michael Rulli (R-Salem) and Representative Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Paris Township) ran against one another in the primary, with Rulli announced the winner. Senator Rulli also won the primary for the right to run for a full term beginning in 2025.

Ohio Supreme Court.

There was only one contested primary for the Ohio Supreme Court. Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes (D-Cleveland) defeated Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Terri Jamison (D-Columbus) in the Democratic primary to finish the remainder of Supreme Court Justice term that expires December 31, 2025. Judge Forbes will face Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Dan Hawkins (R-Columbus).

Three of the seven seats on the Ohio Supreme Court are contested on the November ballot. Current Justices Melody J. Stewart (D-Cleveland) and Michael P. Donnelly (D-Cleveland Heights) are up for reelection in 2024. Justice Joe Deters (R-Cincinnati) will face Justice Stewart. Justice Donnelly will be running against Judge Meagan Shanahan (R-Cincinnati). The November 2024 General Election will be the second statewide election showing party affiliation alongside Ohio Supreme Court candidates’ names (and Court of Appeals candidates) on the ballot.

Ohio General Assembly.

Many legislators are seeking to switch chambers, including several Senators facing term limits. Notably, President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is running for election in his former Ohio House seat, and many speculate that he will seek to take the Speaker seat once elected. Other current House members potentially switching chambers include Rep. Willis Blackshear (D-Dayton), Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin), Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson), Rep. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) and Rep. Susan Manchester (R-Waynesville). Most, but not all, face General Election opponents.

Many incumbent House members faced primary challengers, including many who supported Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) over Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township) for Speaker of the House at the beginning of the current General Assembly in January 2023. Critics referred to those Republican members as the “Blue 22” because they joined with House Democrats to elect Speaker Stephens. Twelve of the “Blue 22” were up for reelection and four ultimately lost their primaries.  Current Ohio House members who lost their primary elections include: Jon Cross (R- Findlay), Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton), Brett Hudson Hiller (R-Uhrichsville) and Gail Pavliga (R-Atwater). Additionally, Forhan (D-South Euclid) lost his primary race.

In the Ohio Senate, the two incumbents survived their challenges, with Senator George Lang (R-West Chester) and Sandra O’Brien (R-Ashtabula) both winning.

A few primary races are too close to call at this time and we will monitor those results for any recounts and the official canvass which will occur in the next few weeks.

Key Local Races.

In Franklin County, Columbus City Council Member Shayla Favor won a contested primary for Franklin County Prosecutor, defeating Chief Deputy County Prosecutor Anthony Pierson. Current County Prosecutor Gary Tyack is retiring. Besides being the Prosecutor for the most populous County of Ohio, the Franklin County Prosecutor also has jurisdiction of the statehouse and most of state government, which in the fallout of the H.B. 6 scandal has placed renewed emphasis on the position. John Rutan was unopposed in the Republican Primary for Franklin County Prosecutor.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley fended off a primary challenger.

Looking ahead to November, former State Representative Connie Pillich is challenging Republican incumbent, Melissa Powers for the position of Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio. The race figures to be a key test of strength for both local political parties.

November General Election Possible Ballot Issues.

Currently, two ballot issue committees are collecting signatures to appear on the November General Election ballot. The first is a citizen initiated constitutional amendment to revise redistricting in the state. Specifically, if approved by Ohio voters, the constitutional amendment would replace Ohio’s current redistricting process with a citizen-led commission to draw state legislature and congressional districts.

The second potential ballot issue for November is Raise the Wage Ohio, a constitutional amendment to increase Ohio’s minimum wage. This constitutional amendment summary was approved in early 2023, but the supporters of the amendment decided to wait and push their efforts to appear on the November 2024 general election ballot. The constitutional amendment would increase Ohio’s minimum wage to $12.75 on January 1, 2025. On January 1, 2026, the minimum wage would increase again to $15.00 per hour. After January 1, 2027, Ohio’s minimum wage would increase by inflation.

To qualify for the November ballot, each committee must collect a total number of signatures equal to at least ten percent of the total vote cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election, 413,487. The signatures must be obtained from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. From each of these 44 counties, there must be signatures equal to at least five percent of the total vote cast for the office of governor in that county at the last gubernatorial election. The supporters of each potential ballot issue must file their petitions with signatures to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office by July 3, 2024, 125 days before the general election. Therefore, we will know more on these ballot issues’ efforts in July if they are certified to the ballot after a review of their signatures.

Ohio’s legislative agenda will likely pickup after the March Primary Election to try and finish priorities such as Ohio’s capital budget before the summer recess. Once the Legislators leave for the summer, members are not anticipated to return to Columbus until after the November General Election. With so many bills awaiting legislative action, we expect a busy lame duck session at the end of 2024. You can view any of the bills discussed in this memo at the Ohio General Assembly’s website: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov or contact a member of Bricker Graydon’s Government Relations team for more details.

We look forward to working with you in the coming year and helping make 2024 a success.

U.S. House of Representatives[1]

District

Incumbent

Democrat

Republican

1

Greg Landsman

Greg Landsman*

Orlando Sonza*

2

Brad Wenstrup

Samantha Meadows*

Niraj Antani

Charles Tassell

Kim Georgeton

Derek Myers

Shane Wilkin

Phil Heimlich

Ron Hood

Matthew Henderson

Tom Hwang

Larry Kidd

Tim O’Hara

David J. Taylor*

3

Joyce Beatty

Joyce Beatty*

Roshan Chandrakumar

Michael Young*

4

Jim Jordan

Tamie Wilson*

Jeffrey Sites

Stephen Thomas

Jim Jordan*

5

Bob Latta

Keith Mundy*

Bob Latta*

Robert Owsiak

6

Bill Johnson

Rylan  Finzer

Michael Kripchak*

Louis Lyras

Reggie Stoltzfus

Michael Rulli*

Rick Tsai

7

Max Miller

Matthew Diemer*

Douglas Bugie

Max Miller*

8

Warren Davidson

Vanessa Enoch*

Nathaniel Hawkins

David Gelb

Warren Davidson*

Kay Rogers

9

Marcy Kaptur

Marcy Kaptur*

Craig Riedel

Steve Lankenau

J.R. Majewski

Derek Merrin*

10

Mike Turner

Kirk Benjamin

David Esrati

Joseph S. Kuzniar

Amy Cox*

Manuel Foggie

Tony Pombo

Mike Turner*

11

Shontel Brown

Shontel Brown*

Landry M. Simmons

James Hemphill

Alan Rapoport

12

Troy Balderson

Jerrad Christian*

Troy Balderson*

13

Emilia Sykes

Emilia Sykes*

Chris Banweg

Kevin Coughlin*

Richard Morckel

Greg Wheeler

14

Dave Joyce

Brian Kenderes*

Dave Joyce*

Elayne J. Cross

Ken Polke

Mark Zeltzer

15

Mike Carey

Zerqa Abid

Adam Miller*

Mike Carey*

Ohio House of Representatives

District

Incumbent

Democrat

Republican

1

Dontavius Jarrells

Dontavius Jarrells*

None

2

Latyna Humphrey

Latyna Humprhey*

None

3

Ismail Moahmed

Ismail Mohamed*

Abdirizak Diini

Julie Trabold

None

4

Mary Lightbody

Beryl Brown Piccolantonio*

Jason Allevato*

5

Richard Brown

Lea Almeida

Meredith Lawson-Rowe*

Marco Miller

None

6

Adam Miller

Adhanet Kifle

Eli Bohnert

Christine Cockley*

Patrick Barnacle

Brandon Barcus

Kawther Musa

Elijah Williams

Hussein Jabiri*

7

Allison Russo

Allison Russo*

None

8

Beth Liston

Anita Somani*

None

9

Munira Abdhullahi

Munira Abdullahi*

None

10

David Dobos

Sarah Pomeroy[2]

Mark Sigrist

Brian Garvine*

Shafi Ahmed

11

Anita Somani

Crystal Lett*

Stephanie Kunze*

12

Brian Stewart

Brad Cotton*

Brian Stewart*

Patricia Hamilton

13

Michael Skindell

Tristan Rader*

Robert Dintaman*

14

Sean Brennan

Sean Brennan*

None

15

Richard Dell’Aquilla

Chris Glassburn*

T.J. Mulloy

Aaron L. Borowski*

Ryan McClain

16

Bride Rose Sweeney

Bride Rose Sweeney*

Daniel Harrington*

17

Thomas Patton

Jessica Sutherland*

Mike Dovilla*

Anthony Alexander

Gordon Short

18

Darnel Brewer

Juanita Brent*

Justyn Anderson*

19

Phil Robinson

Phil Robinson*

Kenny Godnavec*

20

Terrence Upchurch

Terrence Upchurch

Nathaniel Cory Hatfield

Donna Walker Brown*

21

Elliot Forhan

Elliot Forhan

Eric Synenberg*

Angel Washington

Joshua Malovasic *

22

Juanita Brent

Darnell Brewer*

Milan Wesley*

23

Dan Troy

Dan Troy*

Tony Hocevar*

24

Dani Isaacsohn

Dani Isaacsohn*

Stephan Pryor

John Sess*

25

Cecil Thomas

Cecil Thomas*

Jim Berns*

26

Sedric Denson

Sedrick Denson*

John Breadon*

27

Rachel Baker

Rachel Baker*

Curt Hartman*

28

Jessica Miranda

Jessica Miranda*

Jenn Giroux*

29

Cindy Abrams

Joseph Salvato*

Cindy Abrams*

George Brunemann

30

Bill Seitz

Daniel Voynovich

Stefanie Hawk*

Mike Odioso*

31

Bill Roemer

Anthony J. Harris*

Bill Roemer*

32

Vacant

Jim Colopy*

Jack Daniels*

Mary Stormer

33

Veronica Sims

Veronica Sims*

None

34

Casey Weinstein

Nathan Jarosz

Derrick Hall*

Dina Edwards

Adam Bozic*

35

Steve Demetriou

Mark Curtis*

Steve Demetriou*

36

Andrea White

Chuck Horn

Rose Lounsbury*

Andrea White*

37

Tom Young

None

Tom Young*

38

Willis Blackshear

Desiree Tims

Derrick Forward*

None

39

Phil Plummer

Dion Green*

Phil Plummer*

40

Rodney Creech

Bobbie Arnold*

Rodney Creech*

41

Josh Williams

Erika White*

Colin Flanagan

Josiah Lienbach*

42

Derek Merrin

Elgin Rogers Jr.*

None

43

Michele Grim

Michele Grim*

None

44

Elgin Rogers Jr.

David Blyth*

Josh Williams*

45

Jennifer Gross

Landon Meador*

Jennifer Gross*

46

Thomas Hall

Benjamin McCall*

Thomas Hall*

Zachary R. Stacy

47

Sara Carruthers

Vanessa Cummings*

Sara Carruthers

Diane Mullins*

48

Scott Oelslager

Lynn Gorman*

Scott Oelslager*

49

Jim Thomas

None

Jim Thomas*

50

Reggie Stoltzfus

Vanessa Joy*

Matthew Kishman*

51

Brett Hillyer

John  Bazaar

Joe Rinehart*

Brett Hudson Hillyer

Jodi Salvo*

52

Gayle Manning

Genevieve Flieger*

Gayle Manning*

53

Joe Miller

Joe Miller*

Bradley Lacko*

54

Dick Stein

Brenda Buchanan*

Kellie Deeter*

Anthony Savage

55

Scott Lipps

Laura Davis*

C. Teska*

Ben McCullough

56

Adam Mathews

Cleveland Canova*

Adam Mathews*

Kathy Grossman

Heather Salyer

57

Jamie Callender

Rick Walker*

Jamie Callender*

58

Lauren McNally

Lauren McNally*

Emily Ciccone*

59

Al Cutrona

Laura Schaeffer*

Al Cutrona*

60

Brian Lorenz

Rachael Morocco*

Brian Lorenz*

61

Beth Lear

David Hogan*

Christian Smith

Beth Lear*

Michael Holt

62

Jean Schmidt

Katie Vockell*

Jean Schmidt*

Dillon Blevins

63

Adam Bird

Tracey McCullough*

Adam Bird*

64

Nick Santucci

Lauren Mathews*

Nick Santucci*

65

Mike Loychik

None

David Thomas*

Laurie Magyar

66

Sharon Ray

Bradford Scott Quade*

Sharon Ray*

Gary Fox

67

Melanie Miller

Drew MclIveen*

Melanie Miller*

68

Thad Claggett

Michael Smith*

Thad Claggett*

69

Kevin D. Miller

Jamie Hough*

Kevin Miller*

Daniel Kalmbach

70

Brian Lampton

Joseph Wilson*

Brian Lampton&

71

Bill Dean

James Duffee*

Joshua Day

Levi Dean*

Robert Fudge

Tyler Scott

72

Gail Pavliga

Nathaniel Adams*

Gail Pavliga

Heidi Workman*

73

Jeff LaRe

Michael Scarmack (write-in)*

Jeff LaRe*

Mike Tussey

74

Bernard Willis

Derek Alvarado*

Bernard Willis*

75

Haraz Ghanbari

Jan Materni*

Haraz Ghanbari*

Sally Culling

76

Marilyn John

Alomar Davenport*

Marilyn John*

77

Scott Wiggam

Mark Gooch*

Bill Albright

Meredith Craig*

Frank Grande

Josh Hlavaty

Dennis Finley

78

Susan Manchester

None

Matt Huffman*

79

Monica Robb Blasdell

Dan Votaw*

Monica Robb Blasdell*

80

Jena Powell

Melissa Vandyke*

Jonathan Newman*

81

James Hoops

Gene Redinger (write-in)*

James Hoops*

82

Roy Klopfenstein

Magadalene Markward*

Roy Klopfenstein*

83

Jon Cross

Sheila Coressel*

Jon Cross

Ty Mathews*

84

Andrea King

Arienne Childrey*

Angie King*

85

Tim Barhorst

Victoria Maddox*

Tim Barhorst*

86

Tracy Richardson

Lesley Verbus*

Tracy Richardson*

Wezlynn Davis

87

Riordan McClain

Craig Swartz*

Riordan McClain*

88

Gary Click

Dianne Selvey*

Gary Click*

89

D.J. Swearingen

Alicia Roshong*

D.J. Swearingen*

Steven Kraus

90

Justin Pizzulli

Kate Nunneley*

Justin Pizzulli*

Gina Collinsworth

Timothy J. Wheeler

91

Bob Peterson

Ellen Yvette Clark*

Bob Peterson*

92

Mark Johnson

Arthur Donald Beatty*

Mark Johnson*

93

Jason Stephens

None

Jason Stephens*

94

Jay Edwards

Wenda Sheard*

Kevin Ritter*

Shannon Walker

95

Don Jones

Lish Greiner*

Don Jones*

Nelson Roe

96

Ron Ferguson

None

Ron Ferguson*

97

Adam Holmes

None

Adam Holmes*

98

Darrell Kick

Annie Homstad*

Scott Pullins

Mark Hiner*

Brandon Lape

99

Sarah Fowler Arthur

Louis Murphy*

Sarah Fowler Arthur*

Ohio Senate

District

Incumbent

Democrat

Republican

2

Theresa Gavarone

Paloma De La Fuente (write in) *

Theresa Gavarone*

4

George Lang*

Thomas Cooke*

George Lang*

Mark Morgan

Candice Keller

6

Niraj Antani

Jyl Hall

Jocelyn Rhynard

Willis Blackshear*

Charlotte McGuire*

8

Louis Blessing

Ty Hogan*

Louis Blessing*

10

Bob Hackett

Daniel McGregor*

Kyle Koehler*

Carolyn Destefani

12

Matt Huffman

Zulma Schrupp*

Susan Manchester*

14

Terry Johnson

Mark Grauwelman

Shane Marcum*

Terry Johnson*

16

Stephanie Kunze

Beth Liston*

Besa Sharrah*

18

Jerry Cirino

Chris Callender

Katie O’Neill*

Jerry Cirino*

20

Tim Schaffer

Nick Hubbell*

Tim Schaffer*

22

Mark Romanchuk

Kathy Salem*

Mark Romanchuk*

24

Matt Dolan

Sue Durichko*

Tom Patton*

26

Bill Reineke

Mohamed Juma*

Bill Reineke*

28

Vernon Sykes

Casey Weinstein*

Jon Leissler*

30

Brian Chavez

Iva Faber*

Brian Chavez*

32

Sandra O’Brien

Michael Shrodek*

Sandra O’Brien*

Mike Loychik

[1] Preliminary election results. * Denotes the unofficial primary election winner.
[2] This race was too close to call at the time of this publication.

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