2012 elections: The other Ohio primary election results

March 7, 2012

By Geoff Pallay

COLUMBUS, Ohio: While most attention for Super Tuesday yesterday centered around the presidential primaries, there were other elections throughout the state of Ohio. Party primaries were held for 16 U.S. House seats, 1 U.S. Senate seat, and 116 state legislative seats.

Here's a recap.

Congress

Two incumbent U.S. House members were defeated in Ohio's primary last night. Jean Schmidt (R) fell to challenger Brad Wenstrup (R) and Dennis Kucinich (D) lost to fellow incumbent Marcy Kaptur (D).

According to the unofficial results, Wenstrup received 48.79% of the vote while Schmidt garnered 42.76%. Kaptur defeated Kucinich handily, 56.44%-39.74%.

In 2010, Schmidt won her primary with more than 61% of the vote. That year, there were 58,681 votes cast in the Republican Primary for District 2. Last night, more than 84,000 votes were cast according to unofficial results.

Mary Jo Kilroy (D), a former U.S. Rep who lost to Steve Stivers (R) in the general election in 2010, failed to make it out of her party primary this time around. She was defeated by former State representative Joyce Beatty in the Democratic Primary for the 3rd Congressional District.

All other incumbents who faced opposition advanced to the general election. There were 19 contested primaries in the 16 U.S. House districts. Here are the candidates who are advancing to the general election:

Democratic Party

No results are available yet

Republican Party

No results are available yet

Third Party

No results are available yet

Two races - Districts 1 and 2 - appear to have ended with less than 100 votes separating the two candidate. Jeff Sinnard defeated Malcom Kantzler in the Democratic Party primary for District 1. The winner will face incumbent Steve Chabot in the general election. In neighboring District 2, William R. Smith beat David Krikorian by 51 votes. Smith will face Brad Wenstrup, who unseated incumbent Jean Schmidt in the Republican primary.

Additionally, current Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel won the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate race where he will face incumbent Sherrod Brown (D) on November 6.

Republicans control 13 of the 18 seats heading into the November general election.

Members of the U.S. House from Ohio -- Partisan Breakdown
Party		As of November 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	5	4
	Republican Party	13	12
Total		18	16

State legislatures

Voters went to the polls to select candidates to appear on the November 6 ballot in 116 state legislative races in the State Senate and State House.

Of the 232 possible elections (1 Democratic primary and 1 Republican primary for each of the 116 seats), there were only 35 contested primaries -- which means voters had multiple candidates to choose from in only 15.1% of party primaries. In other words, in all but 35 of the races only one candidate from each party appeared on the ballot.

One incumbent lost his bid for re-election.

• HD73 Incumbent Jarrod Martin (Incumbent from HD70) lost his bid for re-election.

All other incumbents advanced to the general election.

Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature by large margins.

Ohio State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	10	10
	Republican Party	23	23
Total		33	33

Ohio House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	40	39
	Republican Party	59	60
Total		99	99

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2012
• United States Senate elections in Ohio, 2012
• Ohio State Senate elections, 2012
• Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2012