Central Ohio primary voters went to the polls on May 5 to weigh in on who should represent them in the Statehouse.
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 are on the ballot in Franklin and Delaware counties. Check back here for results.
According to early, unofficial results in the open Democratic primary race for Ohio House District 2, Charity Martin King appears to be defeating Michael Cole, a former Columbus City school Board president.
Early, 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, losing their primaries.
Ohio Senate results in the Columbus area
Ohio Senate District 3 Democratic Primary: In early, unofficial results, it appears Stacie Baker will beat out Natasha Wheatley-Caffrey in the Democratic primary for a chance to take on Republican State Sen. Michelle Reynolds in November. The district is drawn to favor Republicans.
Ohio Senate District 25 Democratic Primary: Incumbent Sen. Bill Demora, D-Columbus, appears to have fended off a primary challenge from Jesse Bruce Baker, according to early, unofficial results. The winner 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. In early, unofficial results, Lear was losing to Orange Township Trustee Ryan Rivers in the GOP primary. The winner 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 appears to have fended off a challenge from fellow Democrat Christopher Robbins, according to unofficial, early results. The winner will face Republican Joel Greff in November. The district is 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 appears to be defeating Michael Cole, a former Columbus City school Board president. No Republicans filed to run in the solidly Democratic district.
Ohio House District 7 Democratic Primary: This seat is up for grabs as incumbent Democratic Rep. Allison Russo is vacating the seat to run for Ohio Secretary of State. In early, unofficial results from the three-way race, Ukeme Awakessien Jeter is leading Michaela Burriss and Zach Rossfeld. The winner will face Republican William Mercier in November. The district heavily favors Democrats.
Ohio House District 60 Democratic Primary: Two Democrats are running for the seat: Shelby Kimball and Eli Wenzel. Whoever emerges will face the winner of a Republican primary in the district, which is drawn to favor the GOP.
Ohio House District 60 Republican Primary: Incumbent Rep. Brian Lorenz, who was appointed to the seat in 2023, appears to have defeated primary challenger Peggy Guzzo, according to early, unofficial results. The winner will face the candidate who emerges from the Democratic primary.
Ohio House District 61 Republican Primary: Shawn Stevens appears to be defeating State Sen. Andrew Brenner, who is term-limited in the Senate, according to early, unofficial results. The winner of the primary will face unopposed Democrat Vince McGrail in November. The district favors Republicans.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Early results show area Statehouse veterans losing in GOP primaries
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
