Central Ohio primary voters rejected efforts of two Delaware County legislators to switch chambers amidst numerous May 5 Statehouse races across the region.
Most state legislative districts in Ohio are solidly blue or red, meaning many races are all but decided at the primary stage. Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Statehouse − advantages they expect to retain based on existing maps.
Several contested primaries for the Ohio House and Senate were on the ballot in Franklin and Delaware counties.
Unofficial results out of the Delaware County area show two Republican legislators, Sen. Andrew Brenner and Rep. Beth Lear, who were attempting to swap seats due to term limits, lost their primaries.
According to unofficial results in the open Democratic primary race for Ohio House District 2, Charity Martin King defeated Michael Cole, a former Columbus City school Board president, by a wide margin.
Ohio Senate results in the Columbus area
Ohio Senate District 3 Democratic Primary: Stacie Baker beat out Natasha Wheatley-Caffrey in the Democratic primary 55% to 45% for a chance to take on Republican State Sen. Michelle Reynolds in November, according to unofficial results. The district is drawn to favor Republicans.
Ohio Senate District 25 Democratic Primary: Incumbent Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, fended off a primary challenge from Jesse Bruce Baker. According to unofficial results, DeMora received 56.3% of the vote and Baker received 43.7%. DeMora will take on Don Roberts, the sole Republican who filed for the seat, in November.
Ohio Senate District 19 Republican Primary: Republican Sen. Andrew Brenner is leaving the seat due to term limits and was attempting to swap with State Rep. Beth Lear. However, Orange Township Trustee Ryan Rivers defeated Lear in the GOP primary, 52% to 48%, according to unofficial results. Rivers will face Democrat Janet Wagner in a district where the Republican is favored.
Ohio House results in the Columbus area
Ohio House District 1 Democratic Primary: Incumbent Rep. Dontavius Jarrells fended off a primary challenge from fellow Democrat Christopher Robbins, 80% to 20%, according to unofficial results. The winner will face Republican Joel Greff in November in a district drawn to favor Democrats.
Ohio House District 2 Democratic Primary: In an open race to replace Democratic Rep. Latyna Humphrey, who’s running for State Senate, Charity Martin King defeated Michael Cole, a former Columbus City school board president. Martin King received 66% of the vote and Cole received 34%, according to unofficial results. No Republicans filed to run in the solidly Democratic district.
Ohio House District 7 Democratic Primary: Upper Arlington Mayor Ukeme Awakessien Jeter won with 43.5% of the vote, defeating Michaela Burriss (33.1%) and Zach Rossfeld (23.4%), according to unofficial results. Awakessien Jeter will face Republican William Mercier in November in a district that heavily favors Democrats. This seat was up for grabs as incumbent Democratic Rep. Allison Russo is vacating the seat to run for Ohio Secretary of State.
Ohio House District 60 Democratic Primary: Shelby Kimball defeated Eli Wenzel, 53% to 47%, according to unofficial results. Kimball will face an uphill battle in November in a district drawn to favor the GOP.
Ohio House District 60 Republican Primary: Incumbent Rep. Brian Lorenz, who was appointed to the seat in 2023, defeated primary challenger Peggy Guzzo, 77% to 23%, according to unofficial results. Lorenz will face Kimball in November.
Ohio House District 61 Republican Primary: Shawn Stevens defeated State Sen. Andrew Brenner, who is term-limited in the Senate, 57% to 43%, according to unofficial results. Stevens will face unopposed Democrat Vince McGrail in November in a district that favors Republicans.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Area Statehouse veterans lose GOP primaries. See other results
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
