2022 Midterm Election Results
Editor’s Note: Zach Hampu, Thomas Daniels, Jack Slemenda, Madeline Harden, Claire Del Vita and Izzy Keller contributed to this report.
The 2022 Midterm elections are coming to a close in Ohio. The election had a record-breaking early and absentee voter turnout, with 1,392,767 Ohioans voting either early or absentee, according to an Ohio Secretary of State press release. The release wrote that 549,771 early in-person ballots were cast and 1,000,669 people mailed in their votes.
The above graph shows data released to the media by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office on Nov. 7, 2022. The graph contains data from all Ohio counties.
The above graph shows data released to the media by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office on Nov. 7, 2022. The graph contains data only from Athens County.
Of the 38,989 registered voters in Athens, 18,249 voted, a 46.81% turnout rate, according to unofficial results from the Athens County Board of Elections.
All results were recorded as of midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Note that all results are unofficial until provisional ballots are counted. The deadline to provide additional voter information for provisional ballots is Nov. 15.
NATIONAL OFFICES
U.S. Senate
Republican J.D. Vance defeated Congressman Tim Ryan to win Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat. Vance is ahead with 53.5% of the vote, according to the Associated Press. Vance is a Republican.
Ryan conceded from the race last night.
In Athens County, Vance is reportedly polling at 40.04% and Ryan with 59.76%, according to the Athens County BOE.
U.S. House of Representatives
Troy Balderson is expected to continue representing Ohio’s 12th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is currently ahead of Democrat Amy Rippel-Elton with 69.51% of the vote, according to the Ohio Secretary of State website. Balderson is a Republican.
In Athens County, Balderson is holding 43.63% of the vote with Rippel-Elton at 56.37%, according to the Athens County BOE.
STATE OFFICES
Ohio Governor
Mike DeWine is expected to remain as Ohio’s governor. He is ahead of Nan Whaley with 62.96% of the vote, according to the Ohio Secretary of State website. DeWine is a Republican.
In Athens County, DeWine took 47.59% of the vote and Whaley held 52.13%, according to the Athens County BOE.
Ohio Lieutenant Governor
Jon Husted, DeWine’s running mate, will remain as Ohio’s lieutenant governor. He has 62.96% of the vote, according to unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website. Husted is a Republican.
In Athens County, Husted took 47.58% of the vote and Cheryl Stephens held 52.13%, according to the Athens County BOE.
Secretary of State
Frank LaRose will remain Ohio’s secretary of state. LaRose received 59.78% of the vote, according to unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website. His opponent, Chelsea Clark, collected 39.2%. LaRose is a Republican.
In Athens County, Clark took the lead with 54.41% and LaRose with 44.49%, according to the Athens County BOE.
Attorney General
Dave Yost is expected to remain as Ohio’s attorney general. The Republican brought in 60.6% of the vote, and Democratic contender State Rep. Jeffrey Crossman received 39.4% of the vote, according to unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website.
In Athens County, Yost is polling lower than statewide with 46.02% of the vote and Crossman holding 53.98%, according to the Athens County BOE.
State Auditor
Keith Faber is expected to remain as Ohio’s state auditor. He currently has 59.21% of the vote to former Nelsonville City Auditor Taylor Sappington’s 40.79%, according to unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website. Faber is a Republican.
In Athens County, Sappington took the lead with 58.00% of the vote compared to Faber’s 42.00%, according to the Athens County BOE.
Treasurer
Ohio’s incumbent Treasurer Robert Sprague is expected to keep his seat with 58.96% of the vote. Democratic opponent and Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer lost with 41.04% of the vote, according to unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website. Sprague is a Republican.
In Athens County, Schertzer held a lead with 56.10% of the vote and Sprauge at 43.90%, according to the Athens County BOE.
Ohio House 94th District
Unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State website show that incumbent State Representative Jay Edwards will continue to represent Ohio’s 94th District winning 58.9% of the vote, defeating Tanya Conrath who gathered 41.4% of the vote.
In Athens County, Conrath took the lead with 56.51% of the vote with Edwards trailing at 43.49%, according to the Athens County BOE.
LOCAL OFFICES
County Commissioner
Unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website show that incumbent Democrat Lenny Eliason will continue as Athens County commissioner with 51% of the vote, beating Republican Alex Burcher and Independent Bill Hayes, with 38% and 11% of the vote respectively.
The New Political reached out to Eliason for comment, but received no response.
County Auditor
Unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website show that Republican incumbent Jill Thompson is ahead of Democratic challenger Ric Wasserman to continue as Athens County auditor. Thompson has 51.8% of the vote with challenger Ric Wasserman garnering 48.2%.
“I am just so thankful to the voters of Athens County and grateful to have such strong bipartisan support, and that's not easy to do here,” Thompson shared.
She added, “I am very proud to have run a very clean race. No mudslinging, you know, that's what I'm about, and that's what I think conduct of elected officials shouldn't be, so I'm grateful and proud of the race that we ran.”
Wasserman has not conceded the race, according to the Athens Messenger. The New Political called Wasserman for comment, but received no response.
STATE JUDICIAL OFFICES
Supreme Court Chief Justice
Republican Sharon Kennedy is expected to defeat Democrat Jennifer Brunner for Ohio’s Supreme Court Chief Justice position. Kennedy is ahead of Brunner 56.51% to 43.49%, according to unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website.
In Athens County, Brunner held the lead at 57.76% and Kennedy with 42.24%, according to the Athens County BOE.
Supreme Court Justice I
Republican Pat Fischer is expected to remain an Ohio Supreme Court Justice. According to unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website, Fischer currently has 57.35% of the vote to opponent Terri Jamison’s 42.65%.
In Athens County, Jamison took 57.45% of the vote and Fischer with 42.55%, according to the Athens County BOE.
Supreme Court Justice II
Incumbent Pat DeWine is also projected to remain an Ohio Supreme Court Justice. The Republican brought in 56.75% of the vote, while opponent Democrat Marilyn Zayas received 43.25% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State website.
In Athens County, Zayas polled higher with 57.80% of the vote and DeWine with 42.20%, according to the Athens County BOE.
Appellate Court Judge
Incumbent Kristy Wilkin ran uncontested to continue as a judge on Ohio 4th District Appeals Court. Wilkin is a Republican.
Athens County Common Pleas Court
Incumbent George McCarthy ran uncontested to continue as a judge on the Athens County Court of Common Pleas. McCarthy is a Republican.
STATE ISSUES
Issue 1
State Issue 1 would require courts to consider factors like public safety when setting the amount of bail. Unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website show that 77.56% of Ohioans voted “yes” on the issue and 22.44% voted “no.”
In Athens County, 67.03% of voters voted “yes” on Issue 1 with 32.97% voting “no”, according to the Athens County BOE.
Issue 2
State Issue 2 would prohibit local governments from allowing non-electors to vote. Unofficial numbers from the Ohio Secretary of State website show that 77.05% of Ohioans voted ‘yes” on the issue and 22.95% voted “no.”
In Athens County, 63.40% voted “yes” on Issue 2 and 36.60% voted “no” , according to the Athens County BOE.
To see more on yesterday’s election, check out The New Political’s live coverage below: