COLUMBUS, Ohio – Governor John Kasich appears poised to clinch a re-election victory to lead the state for another four years.
Polls opened their doors at 6:30 a.m. after nearly a month of early voting and will remain open until 7:30 p.m.
NATIONAL: Voter dissatisfaction bodes ill for Democrats
Voters in Ohio are also deciding many legislative races and more than 1,600 local issues, including 10 school issues in central Ohio.
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Kasich’s Democratic rival, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, saw tactical missteps and negative revelations effectively sink his campaign, leaving Democrats without a mouthpiece to remind voters of their 2011 collective-bargaining fight against Kasich.
FitzGerald’s troubles also were among factors expected to depress overall turnout Tuesday, hurting down-ticket Democrats’ efforts to unseat incumbent Republicans in the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, auditor and treasurer. Races for treasurer and one Supreme Court seat were considered most competitive.
Republicans who dominate the General Assembly hope to boost their majorities as Democrats seek to fend off challenges in several competitive districts.
Gaining seats won’t be easy for Democrats, who have trailed their GOP counterparts in campaign cash, and have had to face the added challenge of the lack of enthusiasm for FitzGerald.
Ohio voters will pick all 99 House members Tuesday, along with 17 of 33 state senators.
The GOP has held its grip on the Senate since 1985 and is poised to keep it. They hold 23 seats, while Democrats have 10.
Republicans have a 60-39 advantage in the House. Should Democrats pick up a seat there, they could prevent the GOP from having enough members to place issues on the ballot and more easily pull off legislative maneuvers.
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner was expressing confidence on the eve of the election that his fellow Republicans will take control of the U.S. Senate and build on their House majority.
Boehner (R-West Chester) spoke Monday afternoon at a rally at a campaign office in downtown Columbus. He urged GOP supporters to vote for the state’s candidates for Congress, governor and other offices.
Boehner told the crowd that he expects Democrats to get a “big wake-up call” on election night Tuesday, when Republicans win the Senate majority and the GOP grows its numbers in the House.
Ohio’s congressional delegation currently has 12 Republicans and four Democrats. All 16 are considered favored to keep their seats.
Boehner faces a little-known Miami University professor, Tom Poetter, as his Democratic challenger in western Ohio’s 8th District.