Richland County voters supported Republican candidates in Tuesday’s general election, even as Ohio voters statewide elected Democrats to the governor’s office and a U.S. Senate seat.
The November 3 election also brought decisions on county leadership, congressional representation, judicial offices, and several closely watched school tax proposals.
The complete unofficial results from the Richland County Board of Elections can be viewed below.
Ohio Chooses a Different Direction
Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the governor’s race, becoming Ohio’s first woman elected governor and the first Democrat to win the office in 20 years.
Mansfield’s own former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown also defeated Republican incumbent Jon Husted, returning to the Senate after losing his seat in 2024.
Richland County voters, however, favored the Republican candidates in both contests. Ramaswamy received 26,531 votes locally, or 60.36%, compared with Acton’s 15,626 votes, or 35.55%. Husted carried the county with 26,596 votes, or 60.36%, while Brown collected 15,058 votes, or 34.17%.
Republicans Carry Congressional And County Races
Richland County voters supported both Republican congressional incumbents representing portions of the county. Jim Jordan received 62.56% of the county vote in Ohio’s Fourth Congressional District, while Bob Latta collected 65.23% in the Fifth District. Both won reelection. Republican Marilyn John also secured another term representing Ohio’s 76th House District, defeating Democrat Colton Stidam with 65.54% of the county vote.
In county government, Republican Commissioner Cliff Mears defeated Democrat Mark Kaufmann, receiving 28,818 votes, or 66.57%, compared with Kaufmann’s 14,475 votes.
In one of the county’s contested judicial races, Probate Court Judge Kelly Badnell defeated challenger Robert Franco, receiving 58.83% of the vote. Republican County Auditor Patrick Dropsey and Clerk of Courts Heidi Ewing were elected without opposition.
School Levies Meet Voter Resistance
Some of Tuesday’s closest contests involved local school funding.
Lexington Local Schools saw two proposals defeated, including a five-year, 4.8-mill renewal levy that failed by just 129 votes. A proposed additional 0.75% income tax was rejected by a wider margin, with approximately 67% voting against it.
Madison Local Schools experienced an even narrower defeat, as voters rejected a five-year, 14.4-mill renewal levy by 78 votes.
Elsewhere, Shelby voters approved renewal levies supporting the city’s health department and parks, while voters in Bellville approved police and cemetery renewals.
Madison Township voters rejected proposed additional fire and emergency services and road levies. Lucas voters defeated an additional municipal income tax by just nine votes.
Turnout Tops 57 Percent
Richland County recorded 44,623 ballots cast among 77,903 registered voters, representing turnout of 57.28%. All 83 precincts reported Tuesday night. Results remain unofficial until the Richland County Board of Elections completes its canvass.
The election produced a clear contrast between local and statewide voting patterns, with Richland County maintaining its Republican preferences while Ohio voters chose Democrats in two of the state’s most prominent contests.
