Ohio voters delivered a decisive swing toward the Democratic Party in Tuesday’s midterm elections, handing the party control of several key statewide offices for the first time in years. The results, still being tallied early Wednesday, show Democrat John Kulewicz winning the attorney general’s race, Democrat Allison Russo leading the secretary of state contest, and two Democrats securing seats on the Ohio Supreme Court.
Attorney General race
State auditor Keith Faber, a longtime Republican officeholder, conceded defeat to first‑time candidate John Kulewicz. Kulewicz, who previously served as a prosecutor, said in his victory statement, “The people of Ohio have given us not a victory but a responsibility… to focus on the common good and make the economy and government work better for everyone in Ohio.” He becomes the first Democrat to hold the attorney general’s office since Richard Cordray left the post in 2008.
Secretary of State and Treasurer contests
Democratic state legislator Allison Russo is leading the race for secretary of state by a decisive margin, prompting incumbent Republican Robert Sprague to concede before 11 p.m. Russo told reporters, “There is real frustration in this state with what has been going on for the better part of two decades. People are feeling a lot of pain from the affordability crisis.” The Associated Press has not yet called the race, but early numbers suggest a clear advantage for Russo.
The treasurer’s race remains too close to call. Cincinnati City Councilman Seth Walsh leads former Republican state lawmaker Jay Edwards by roughly 50,000 votes, about a one‑percentage‑point edge. Edwards has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Supreme Court gains
Democratic candidates also made inroads on the Ohio Supreme Court. Appellate judge Marilyn Zayas defeated incumbent Justice Dan Hawkins by about two percentage points, while incumbent Democrat Justice Jennifer Brunner held onto her seat. Brunner, who lost a bid for chief justice in 2022, said, “It was a toss‑up. The energy felt good out there. I know what it feels like to lose, and I didn’t feel like I was losing. But this is Ohio.” With these victories, Democrats now occupy two of the seven seats on a bench historically dominated by Republicans.
Implications for Ohio politics
The combined wins in the governor’s race, U.S. Senate, and these statewide offices give the Democratic Party a level of influence that was unthinkable just a few years ago. While the new composition of the Supreme Court may not immediately shift judicial opinions, it does break the expectation of an all‑Republican bench and could affect future legal interpretations.
Republicans retained the state auditor’s office, with Frank LaRose, the current secretary of state, defeating Democrat Annette Blackwell for the position. The race for auditor was one of the few statewide contests called early on Tuesday.
Looking ahead
As the final vote counts continue into the early hours of Wednesday, Ohio’s political map is being redrawn. The Democratic gains signal a shift in voter sentiment, particularly on issues of affordability and government accountability. Both parties will now turn their attention to governing and preparing for the next election cycle, with Ohio’s citizens watching closely how these newly elected officials will address the state’s pressing challenges.
Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.
