Ohio’s primary set the matchups for top-of-the-ticket races for governor, U.S. Senator and House races.
But farther down the ballot, here are some Greater Cincinnati election results you might have missed:
‘Afroman’ endorsement not enough
In a Democratic primary for Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, Judge Chris Wagner trounced challenger Bill Gallagher.
Gallagher, a defense lawyer, hoped an endorsement from Ohio-based rapper Afroman would boost his chances, but in the end, Wagner got 78% of the vote to Gallagher’s 22%. A political action committee that supported Gallagher gave Afroman $5,000 ahead of the endorsement video, according to a campaign finance report.
There is no Republican challenger, so Wagner will keep his seat in November.
Incumbent commissioners survive in Warren and Clermont counties …
Warren County Commissioner Tom Grossmann beat Lebanon Mayor Mark Messer 62% to 38% in the Republican primary.
In Clermont County, Commissioner Claire Corcoran easily fended off Republican primary challenger Luiza McQueen, 73% to 27%.
But incumbents lose to younger rivals in Hamilton and Butler counties
Meeka Owens, 47, ousted 71-year-old Stephanie Summerow Dumas, who was first elected in 2018. Owens got 52% of the vote to Dumas’s 41% in the Democratic primary. A third candidate, Herman Najoli, got 7%.
Touting his “youthful edge,” former Hamilton City Councilman Michael Ryan, 41, torched incumbent Butler County Commissioner Cindy Carpenter in the Republican primary. He got 72% to only 28% for the 67-year-old Carpenter, who lost the backing of most county Republicans after four terms.
Mark Mallory wins again
Former Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory continues to win elections – for the state Democratic Party’s central committee, which helps run the party. He won his party’s primary against two opponents with 69% of the vote, getting another four-year term. Mallory told The Enquirer that he has served on the committee for decades.
Cincinnati Public Schools’ spokesman wins a primary
Joe Wessels, media relations associate for Cincinnati Public Schools, won a Democratic primary for Clermont County Commissioner, getting 70% of the vote. The Loveland resident will face incumbent Corcoran in the November election in what is a solidly Republican county.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 5 results you might have missed in Ohio’s primary
Reporting by Carl Weiser, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
