In Dayton, Democratic voters favored Desiree Tims, a former Congressional candidate and the current leader of progressive think tank Innovation Ohio, over Derrick Foward. Tims had 71.7% of the vote Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State.
Tims said she was thrilled to have “the opportunity to serve a community that has served me for so long.”
“For everyone who voted for me, I want to say thank you. To those who didn’t vote for me, I’ll work to earn your support ... into the future and I hope to pour back into the community as I continue to move forward,” Tims said.
With the win, the path is clear for Tims to represent Trotwood and much of Dayton in the Ohio House, as she will be unopposed in November.
She’ll take over the seat left vacant by Rep. Willis Blackshear Jr., D-Dayton, who abdicated his position in the House in order to run for the Ohio Senate.
Foward is former president of the Dayton Unit NAACP and the former vice president of the Ohio Conference NAACP.
House District 36 | Democratic Primary
In Dayton, Kettering and Oakwood, Democratic voters picked small business owner and former teacher Rose Lounsbury over retired attorney Chuck Horn to take on Republican incumbent Rep. Andrea White, R-Kettering, this November.
Lounsbury secured 73.7% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State. She told this news organization that she was grateful for her campaign team and all those who voted for her. She said her goal now is to flip the district blue, which she hopes to accomplish by garnering support from voters who backed abortion rights twice in the last year.
“The people of Ohio care about that; the people of our district care about that. And, you know, our opponent has shown with her votes that she doesn’t,” Lounsbury said.
While pro-life, White has called abortion a “complicated” issue, saying Ohio needs “... to protect women’s health and lives.”
Horn conceded the race Tuesday night and wished Lounsbury good luck. He told this news organization that he will support her in November.
House District 71 | Republican Primary
In chunks of Clark, Greene, and all of Clinton County, Republican voters picked Xenia City Councilman Levi Dean as the GOP’s nominee to replace his term-limited father, Rep. Bill Dean, R-Xenia, in the Ohio House.
In a four-candidate race, Dean had 45.6% of the vote Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State, swatting away Republican challengers including Xenia School Board President Josh Day (26%); former Cedarville Mayor Bob Fudge (17%); and political newcomer Tyler Scott (11%).
“I just really want to thank God, thank my family, all the supporters — everyone put in a lot of hard work and I couldn’t have done it without them,” Dean told this news organization. “I want to thank the other candidates who were involved in the race. They’re all good guys, and I know that they all worked hard. I hope that we’re able to work together in the future towards making the area better.”
With his primary victory secured, Dean will go on to face Democrat James Duffee this November.
House District 56 | Republican Primary
In the central and southwestern parts of Warren County, including Lebanon, incumbent Rep. Adam Mathews, R-Lebanon, staved off two GOP challengers.
Mathews received 44% of the vote Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State. Mathews told this news organization that he’s “incredibly grateful for the team effort” that saw him win the race.
The primary was Mathews’ second time defeating Mason City Councilwoman Kathy Grossmann, who pulled 31% of the vote, and the first political defeat for newcomer Heather Salyer, who pulled 24% of the vote.
“I’d like to congratulate everyone that ran races in this primary,” Mathews said. “It is always very difficult to put yourself out there, and I hope as we move forward as a party and a county, we can yield and move towards unity.”
Mathews will go on to face Democrat Cleveland Canova this November.
House District 55 | Republican primary
In the western and northern parts of Warren County, Republican voters picked business owner Michelle Teska as their preferred candidate to try to hold onto a seat left open by term-limited, outgoing Rep. Scott Lipps, R-Franklin.
Teska had 65% of the vote Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State. Army Reservist Ben McCullough of Franklin received 35% of the vote. Teska will go on to face Democrat Laura Marie Davis in the general election this November.
Neither Teska nor McCullough could be reached for comment.
Staff writer Nick Blizzard contributed to this report
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