Democrats Flip Key Ohio Offices and Break House Supermajority as Ballots Are Tallied
Unofficial returns show Democratic executive victories, congressional flips, and state legislative gains that dismantle the GOP House supermajority.
Following Tuesday's general election, Democrats captured the governor’s office for the first time in 20 years with incoming governor Amy Acton, while Democrat Sherrod Brown prepared to return to the U.S. Senate, ousting GOP incumbent Jon Husted. Early returns also showed the voter photo identification measure leading by double digits under State Issue 3.
Previously, Pique Media reported on early returns showing Acton leads the Ohio governor race as precinct returns narrowed the margin.
The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, seat of Ohio state government.
Credit: Ɱ / Wikimedia Commons Image source
Statewide Executive Contests
In the race for Ohio attorney general, Democrat John J. Kulewicz held a narrow lead against Republican Keith Faber. With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding and all precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Kulewicz winning the race with 2,285,117 votes, or 50.31%, compared to 2,256,710 votes, or 49.69%, for Faber. Democrat John Kulewicz declared victory Wednesday morning, and Faber conceded the race, saying his path was slim and that he had called Kulewicz to wish him well.
In the contest for Ohio secretary of state, Democrat Allison Russo won election as secretary of state on Tuesday following a concession by opponent Robert Sprague. In his concession speech Tuesday night, Sprague said every Republican on the ballot faced "significant headwinds, and they turned out to be stronger than any of us understood." In unofficial statewide results, Russo led the statewide tally with 50.3%, ahead of Sprague and Libertarian candidate Tom Pruss.
In the Ohio auditor of state contest, Frank LaRose held an unofficial lead over Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell. With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding and all precincts reporting, unofficial tallies showed LaRose winning the race with 2,310,105 votes, or 50.79%, compared to 2,237,955 votes, or 49.21%, for Blackwell.
In the race for Ohio treasurer of state, Democrat Seth Walsh held a 50,000-vote lead against Republican Jay Edwards. With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding and all precincts reporting, unofficial returns showed Walsh winning the race with 2,282,546 votes, or 50.55%, compared to 2,232,758 votes, or 49.45%, for Edwards.
U.S. House Delegations and Flips
In Ohio's congressional delegation, Democratic challengers flipped seats in Tuesday's election. According to Associated Press projections, Brian Poindexter won Ohio’s 7th Congressional District by beating incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller, and Don Leonard defeated incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey in the 15th Congressional District.
Decision Desk HQ projected that Knickerbocker defeated Ohio Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Turner. As of 4 a.m., Knickerbocker had 149,024 votes, according to state website results, compared to 144,086 for Turner, a difference of 4,938 votes.
With two congressional districts flipped, the delegation stands at 7-7 with 1 race undecided.
All five Ohio Democratic incumbents held their congressional seats in Tuesday's election. Republican Ohio U.S. Reps. Dave Taylor, Jim Jordan, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Warren Davidson, Troy Balderson, and David Joyce all won their races.
General Assembly Supermajority Breakdown
Democrats needed to win six more seats in the Ohio House to break the Republican supermajority of 65 members, and results indicated they gained an estimated 10 to 12 seats. Unofficial returns early Wednesday morning showed they appear to have ousted five Republican incumbents: Mike Dovilla, Andrea White, Brian Lorenz, Tom Young, and Jim Thomas.
Breaking the House supermajority means Republican lawmakers cannot override an Acton veto without bipartisan cooperation.
In the Senate, Democrats needed three seats to end the supermajority, while incumbent Sen. Michele Reynolds lost re-election to Democrat Stacie Baker.
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How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (6)
Following Tuesday's general election, Democrats captured the governor’s office for the first time in 20 years with incoming governor Amy Acton, while Democrat Sherrod Brown prepared to return to the U.S. Senate, ousting GOP incumbent Jon Husted.
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Democrats not only won the governor’s office for the first time in 20 years on Tuesday. They also made big gains in the state legislature, which could limit lawmakers’ power to override a veto from Democratic incoming governor Amy Acton.
Following Tuesday's general election, Democrats captured the governor’s office for the first time in 20 years with incoming governor Amy Acton, while Democrat Sherrod Brown prepared to return to the U.S. Senate, ousting GOP incumbent Jon Husted.
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Democrat Sherrod Brown to return to US Senate, ousting GOP incumbent Jon Husted
Democrats needed to win six more seats in the Ohio House to break the Republican supermajority of 65 members, and results indicated they gained an estimated 10 to 12 seats.
Read supporting passage
Democrats needed to win six more seats in the Ohio House to break the Republican supermajority of 65 members. They may have picked up ten seats, and possibly as many as 12.
Unofficial returns early Wednesday morning showed they appear to have ousted five Republican incumbents: Mike Dovilla, Andrea White, Brian Lorenz, Tom Young, and Jim Thomas.
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Unofficial returns early Wednesday morning show they appear to have ousted five Republican incumbents: Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) was defeated by Megan CoyAndrea White (R-Kettering) was defeated by Rose LounsburyBrian Lorenz (D-Powell) was defeated by Shelby KimballTom Young (R-Washington Twp.) was defeated by Tom HernerJim Thomas (R-Plain Twp.) was defeated by Krista Allison
Breaking the House supermajority means Republican lawmakers cannot override an Acton veto without bipartisan cooperation.
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Without a supermajority in the coming General Assembly, Republican lawmakers will be unable to override an Acton veto without bipartisan cooperation.
In the Senate, Democrats needed three seats to end the supermajority, while incumbent Sen. Michele Reynolds lost re-election to Democrat Stacie Baker.
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In the Senate, Democrats needed three more seats to end the supermajority. Incumbent Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) lost re-election to Democrat Stacie Baker.
Acton Leads Ohio Governor Race as Precinct Returns Narrow Margin
Supporting evidence (2)
Early returns also showed the voter photo identification measure leading by double digits under State Issue 3.
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On State Issue 3 to require voters to present photo identification to vote, the Guardian reported the measure leading by 25.6 percentage points with 28% of precincts reporting.
Previously, Pique Media reported on early returns showing Acton leads the Ohio governor race as precinct returns narrowed the margin.
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Acton Leads Ohio Governor Race as Precinct Returns Narrow Margin
Supporting evidence (2)
In the race for Ohio attorney general, Democrat John J. Kulewicz held a narrow lead against Republican Keith Faber.
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Ohio Democratic candidate for attorney general John J. Kulewicz holds a narrow lead in the race against Ohio Republican Keith Faber.
With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding and all precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Kulewicz winning the race with 2,285,117 votes, or 50.31%, compared to 2,256,710 votes, or 49.69%, for Faber.
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With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding, and 100% of precincts reporting in unofficial results on the Ohio Secretary of State website, Kulewicz is winning the race with 2,285,117 votes, or 50.31%, compared to 2,256,710 votes, or 49.69%, for Faber.
https://mercercountyoutlook.net/2026/11/04/faber-concedes/
Supporting evidence (1)
Democrat John Kulewicz declared victory Wednesday morning, and Faber conceded the race, saying his path was slim and that he had called Kulewicz to wish him well.
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In the Ohio Attorney General Race Democrat John Kulewicz declared victory Wednesday morning over Republican Keith Faber of Celina, leading 50.31% to 49.69% after early and Election Day votes were counted, per the Columbus Dispatch. Faber has conceded, saying his path was slim, that he’d called Kulewicz to wish him well, and that-
Supporting evidence (2)
In the contest for Ohio secretary of state, Democrat Allison Russo won election as secretary of state on Tuesday following a concession by opponent Robert Sprague.
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Ohio Democratic lawmaker Allison Russo won election as the next Ohio Secretary of State on Tuesday, following a concession by opponent and current Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague.
In his concession speech Tuesday night, Sprague said every Republican on the ballot faced "significant headwinds, and they turned out to be stronger than any of us understood."
Read supporting passage
In his concession speech on Tuesday night, Sprague said every Republican on the ballot “knew going into this election that we were going to face significant headwinds, and they turned out to be stronger than any of us understood.”
Supporting evidence (1)
In unofficial statewide results, Russo led the statewide tally with 50.3%, ahead of Sprague and Libertarian candidate Tom Pruss.
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In the secretary of state’s race, Republican Robert Sprague carried the county with 65.5%, ahead of Democrat Allison Russo’s 31.4% and Libertarian Tom Pruss’s 3.1%, even as Russo led the statewide tally with 50.3%.
Supporting evidence (2)
In the Ohio auditor of state contest, Frank LaRose held an unofficial lead over Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell.
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Republican Frank LaRose holds a lead over Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell in the race for Ohio Auditor, according to unofficial results on Tuesday night.
With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding and all precincts reporting, unofficial tallies showed LaRose winning the race with 2,310,105 votes, or 50.79%, compared to 2,237,955 votes, or 49.21%, for Blackwell.
Read supporting passage
With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding, and 100% of precincts reporting in unofficial results on the Ohio Secretary of State website, LaRose is winning the race with 2,310,105 votes, or 50.79%, compared to 2,237,955 votes, or 49.21%, for Blackwell.
Supporting evidence (2)
In the race for Ohio treasurer of state, Democrat Seth Walsh held a 50,000-vote lead against Republican Jay Edwards.
Read supporting passage
Ohio Democratic candidate for treasurer Seth Walsh holds a 50,000-vote lead in the race for Ohio Treasurer against Ohio Republican lawmaker Jay Edwards.
With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding and all precincts reporting, unofficial returns showed Walsh winning the race with 2,282,546 votes, or 50.55%, compared to 2,232,758 votes, or 49.45%, for Edwards.
Read supporting passage
With 102,148 provisional ballots outstanding, and 100% of precincts reporting in unofficial results on the Ohio Secretary of State website, Walsh is winning the race with 2,282,546 votes, or 50.55%, compared to 2,232,758 votes, or 49.45%, for Edwards.
Supporting evidence (7)
In Ohio's congressional delegation, Democratic challengers flipped seats in Tuesday's election.
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All five Ohio Democratic incumbents held their U.S. Congressional district seats Tuesday while Democratic challengers have flipped at least two and maybe three Republican seats.
According to Associated Press projections, Brian Poindexter won Ohio’s 7th Congressional District by beating incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller, and Don Leonard defeated incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Carey in the 15th Congressional District.
Read supporting passage
According to Associated Press projections, Ohio Democratic candidate Brian Poindexter won Ohio’s 7th Congressional district, beating incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller, and Democrat Don Leonard defeated Ohio Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Carey.
Decision Desk HQ projected that Knickerbocker defeated Ohio Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Turner.
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Decision Desk HQ projects that Democratic challenger Kristina Knickerbocker also defeated Ohio Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, while the DCCC congratulated her and she gave a victory speech, the Dayton Daily News reports.
As of 4 a.m., Knickerbocker had 149,024 votes, according to state website results, compared to 144,086 for Turner, a difference of 4,938 votes.
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As of 4 a.m., Knickerbocker had 149,024 votes, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, compared to 144,086 for Turner, a difference of 4,938 votes.
With two congressional districts flipped, the delegation stands at 7-7 with 1 race undecided.
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Ohio Democrats flip two US Congressional districts. Delegation stands at 7-7 with 1 race undecided
All five Ohio Democratic incumbents held their congressional seats in Tuesday's election.
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All five Ohio Democratic incumbents held their U.S. Congressional district seats Tuesday while Democratic challengers have flipped at least two and maybe three Republican seats.
Dave Taylor, Jim Jordan, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Warren Davidson, Troy Balderson, and David Joyce all won their races.
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Republican Ohio U.S. Reps. Dave Taylor, Jim Jordan, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli, Warren Davidson, Troy Balderson, and David Joyce all won their races.