GOP lawmakers win big

SANDUSKY — Local Republicans who won their races for the Ohio General Assembly helped strengthen a super majority in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House. As a result, Republican lawmakers will be in a strong position when they have disputes with Ohio's Republican governor, Mike DeWine, including over COVID-19 rules. They'll have the votes to override any DeWine vetoes. But they also can be helpful to DeWine when they agree with him and can pass bills regardless of what Democrats want. Republicans picked up a net gain of three seats in the Ohio House, expanding the party's majority from 61 to 64 in the 99-member body. Republicans hold 24 seats in the 33-member Ohio Senate. Depending on the outcome of a very close race in the Columbus area apparently headed for a recount, Senate Republicans either will keep their 24 seats or will pick up another one and go to 25. The still-undecided Ohio Senate race, District 16, pits the incumbent Republican, Stephanie Kunze, against a Democratic challenger, Crystal Lett. On Friday, Kunze had a 41-vote lead, 102,474 to 102,433. Provisional ballots and late-arriving absentee ballots may help settle the very close race. The Ohio House needs 60 votes to override a veto, said state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, who carried both Erie and Ottawa counties Tuesday on his way to winning a two-year term to represent House District 89. So if Republicans stick together, they can overcome opposition from DeWine, Swearingen said. "That's important if there's disagreement with the governor," Swearingen said. Similarly, state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, said Republicans in the Ohio Senate also can override DeWine's vetoes and can insist on relaxing COVID-19 rules. "There's been a lot of legislation centered around concerns about health orders having possibly gone too far," Gavarone said. "The super majority may play some role in some of that legislation." Many lawmakers believe, for example, that safety rules in bars are more important than banning the sale of alcohol at a specific time, Gavarone said. Gavarone said that while safety is a top priority for her, "I was able to campaign on ensuring the rights of Ohioans aren't infringed." On Tuesday, Gavarone won a full four-year term to keep representing Ohio Senate District 2, which includes Erie and Ottawa counties and other portions of northwest Ohio. Swearingen, originally appointed to his seat, has now become the third Republican lawmaker in a row to win an election to represent Erie and Ottawa counties. Asked if House District 89 has become a safe Republican seat, he responded, "Oh, man, that's a good question. I think right now, people I talk to, this is still a very unique district." There's no denying the district is moving in a Republican direction, Swearingen said. All of the Republicans on the ballot in Erie and Ottawa counties won on Tuesday. "In my opinion, you still have to earn people's votes, regardless of party affiliation," he said. Here is a roundup of the outcome of local races for the Ohio General Assembly; Republicans won every race. All numbers are unofficial totals, as of Friday, released by local election boards and the Ohio Secretary of State. Ohio Senate District 2 The incumbent, state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, won 119,458 votes, or 62%. Her Democratic challenger, Joel O'Dorisio, got 72,530 votes. The district includes Erie, Ottawa and Wood counties and parts of Fulton and Lucas counties. Ohio Senate District 26 State Rep. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, completed his move to the Ohio Senate. He won 112,325 votes, 70%, compared to 46,177 for Democrat Craig Swartz and 793 for write-in candidate Robert Taylor. Ohio District 26 covers Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Sandusky, Seneca, Union and Wyandot counties. Ohio House District 89 State Rep. D.J. Swearingen, R-Huron, won 34,998 votes, or 57%. Democrat Alexis Miller won 26,033 votes. The district covers Erie and Ottawa counties. Ohio House District 55 State Rep. Dick Stein, R-Norwalk, won 41,240 votes, or 67%, while cruising to re-election. Democrat Dara Adkison got 20,185 votes. The district has all of Huron County and part of Lorain County. Ohio House District 88 Republican Gary Click of Fremont won 32,162, or 63%. Democrat Chris Liebold got 19,004. Click will represent all of Sandusky County and most of Seneca County.