Primary Smoke Clears, Sets Up Fall Showdowns

This week Ohioans went to the polls to determine which candidates would earn their party’s nomination for a number of elected positions throughout Ohio.

At the top of the ticket were the Republican and Democrat primary battles for Ohio governor. After hard campaigning, and unprecedented negative campaigning, convincing victories went to DeWine-Husted and Cordray-Sutton who will engage in a November duel.

Ohioans also voted for Congressman Jim Renacci to take on Senator Sherrod Brown in the U.S. Senate race this fall.

Two Republican U.S. House districts were contested. State Senator Troy Balderson emerged from the primary election to replace Pat Tiberi in the 12^th District. And political rookie and former Ohio State and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez won the right to try to replace Jim Renacci in the 16^th District.

Numerous Statehouse seats were in play as a proxy war between House Finance Chairman Ryan Smith and former House Speaker Larry Householder was waged across the state. Householder appears to have bested the Smith-backed candidates in the majority of those fights.

Here is the rundown as the OMA Public Policy Services team saw it on the morning after. 5/10/2018