COLUMBUS – Republican coal lobbyist Mike Carey defeated a two-term Democratic state lawmaker to win the open U.S. House seat in central Ohio’s 15th District in Tuesday’s special election.
“Right now we are all struggling with rising costs and lost opportunities. That’s why I’ll fight to rein in wasteful spending, create good jobs, and ensure high quality education so parents can build the lives they envision for their children,” Carey said in a thank-you message to supporters.
In northeast Ohio, Democrat Shontel Brown coasted to victory in a second up-for-grabs congressional district in the Cleveland area.
The results of Tuesday’s special elections leave Democrats with a 221-213 advantage over Republicans in Congress, with Carey and Brown each retaining a seat for their respective party.
In Columbus, three Democrats won races for seats on the city council.
Lourdes Barroso de Padilla will be the first Latina to serve on the council. President Shannon Hardin won reelection and Nick Bankston will also join the panel.
The mysterious “green energy” Issue 7 was voted down by 87% of voters in the city.
Turnout was light, with 23.28 percent Franklin County’s 865,220 eligible voters casting ballots, according to the Board of Elections.