DELAWARE — Delaware County voters backed Democrats Amy Acton for governor and Sherrod Brown for U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s election, according to final, unofficial totals from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
All 180 county precincts reported results on election night. The totals remain unofficial until the Board of Elections completes its official count and certifies the election.
Delaware County leaned Democratic in state and federal races, but local results were mixed. Democratic candidates received the most county votes in five of the seven races; Republicans received the most in two.
The results below show how Delaware County voted and, where available, how those votes compare with the broader district or statewide results.
Several congressional and legislative districts extend beyond the county, while the governor’s race, U.S. Senate race and Issue 3 are decided statewide.
Ohio Issue 3
Delaware County voters supported Ohio Issue 3, the proposed voter photo identification amendment, according to final, unofficial totals from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
The amendment received 76,210 votes in favor, or 65.71%, and 39,772 votes against, or 34.29%, in Delaware County.
Statewide, the amendment also had substantial support. In unofficial results from the Ohio secretary of state, 65.93% voted yes and 34.07% voted no, with 8,033 of 8,834 Election Day precincts reporting. Those statewide results are not yet final.
Ohio already requires voters to show an approved photo ID when voting in person. Issue 3 would add that requirement to the Ohio Constitution, making it harder for state lawmakers to change.
The proposal also addresses identification for absentee and other voting methods and allows lawmakers to establish an alternative process for voters with sincere religious objections to being photographed.
Supporters said the amendment would protect election integrity, while opponents raised concerns about potential barriers to voting.
Governor
Delaware County voters favored Democrat Amy Acton and running mate David Pepper in the race for governor and lieutenant governor, according to final, unofficial totals from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
Acton and Pepper received 62,013 votes in the county, or 52.85%. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and running mate Robert A. McColley received 52,351 votes, or 44.61%.
Libertarians Don Kissick and James L. Mills received 2,737 county votes, or 2.33%. Write-in votes accounted for 247 votes, or 0.21%.
Statewide, Acton and Pepper led with 51.09% of the vote to Ramaswamy and McColley’s 45.57%, according to unofficial results from the Ohio secretary of state. At the time of that report, 8,033 of 8,834 Election Day precincts were reporting.
U.S. Senate
Delaware County voters favored Democrat Sherrod Brown over Republican Jon Husted in the race for U.S. Senate, according to final, unofficial totals from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
Brown received 59,368 county votes, or 50.57%, while Husted received 54,128 votes, or 46.10%.
Libertarian William B. Redpath received 2,421 votes, or 2.06%, and Greg Levy received 1,368 votes, or 1.17%. Write-in votes accounted for 124 votes, or 0.11%.
Statewide, Brown led with 48.81% of the vote to Husted’s 46.32%, according to unofficial results from the Ohio secretary of state. At the time of that report, 8,124 of 8,834 Election Day precincts were reporting.
U.S. House District 4
Republican Jim Jordan received the most votes among Delaware County voters in Ohio’s 4th Congressional District, according to final, unofficial totals from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
Jordan received 18,364 votes, or 49.61%, followed by Democrat Joshua D. Kolasinski with 17,814 votes, or 48.12%. Tracey L. Tackett received 841 votes, or 2.27%.
Across the district, Jordan had 197,084 votes, or 64.49%, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s unofficial results. Kolasinski had 95,497 votes, or 31.25%, and Tackett had 13,005 votes, or 4.26%. Those districtwide figures may change as additional votes are reported.
Jordan has represented the 4th District in Congress for nearly two decades. Before that, he served six years in the Ohio House and six years in the Ohio Senate.
Ahead of the election, Jordan said he was seeking another term to protect taxpayers’ dollars and provide oversight of federal programs and agencies.
“Regardless of which party is in power, the public deserves thorough federal government oversight,” Jordan said.
U.S. House District 12
Republican incumbent Troy Balderson won another term in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, although Delaware County voters favored Democratic challenger Jerrad Christian, according to unofficial election results.
In Delaware County, Christian received 40,415 votes, or 51.14%, while Balderson received 38,620 votes, or 48.86%.
However, across the district, Balderson was ahead with 191,926 votes, or 59.39%, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s unofficial results. Christian had 131,211 votes, or 40.61%. The districtwide figures may change as additional votes are reported.
Balderson, a Zanesville resident, served in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate before his election to Congress in 2018. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
He previously told Delaware Source that his highest legislative priority is making life more affordable for Ohio families and small businesses. He said he supports domestic energy production, changes to the permitting process for energy infrastructure and legislation intended to keep large power users from shifting infrastructure costs to other customers.
Balderson also said he supports expanding remote patient monitoring to improve health care access in rural communities.
Ohio Senate District 19
Republican Ryan Rivers won the race for Ohio Senate District 19, despite Democrat Scott Charland receiving more votes in Delaware County, according to unofficial election results.
In Delaware County, Charland received 57,801 votes, or 50.28%, while Rivers received 57,150 votes, or 49.72%. The candidates were separated by 651 votes in the county.
However, across the district, Rivers was ahead with 88,705 votes, or 55.74%, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s unofficial results. Charland had 70,435 votes, or 44.26%. The districtwide figures may change as additional votes are reported.
Rivers is a Central Ohio businessman and former Orange Township trustee. He is also a past president of the Ohio Township Association.
He previously said his first priority would be reducing property taxes, including providing relief for seniors. He also supports reviewing Ohio’s school funding formula to better reflect the cost of educating students and ease the burden on local property taxpayers.
On energy costs, Rivers said large users such as data centers should pay for the power and infrastructure improvements needed to support their operations.
Ohio House District 60
Democrat Shelby Kimball received 32,307 votes from Delaware County voters in Ohio House District 60, or 52.10%, while Republican Brian Lorenz received 29,705 votes, or 47.90%, according to final, unofficial totals from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
The Ohio Secretary of State’s unofficial districtwide results showed the same totals.
Kimball, 34, said she served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Army National Guard for nearly a decade. She is also a state advocate for the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias, working on behalf of patients and families affected by congenital conditions.
Ahead of the election, Kimball said her two legislative priorities were property tax relief and fully funding Ohio’s public schools.
“Families across Delaware County are feeling the strain of rising property taxes, and homeowners deserve some breathing room,” she said. “At the same time, our public schools deserve the resources necessary to provide every child with a quality education, regardless of their ZIP code.”
Ohio House District 61
Republican Shawn Stevens received 28,116 votes from Delaware County voters in Ohio House District 61, or 52.63%, while Democrat Vince McGrail received 25,303 votes, or 47.37%, according to final, unofficial totals from the Delaware County Board of Elections.
Across the district, Stevens was ahead with 34,554 votes, or 55.61%, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s unofficial results. McGrail had 27,585 votes, or 44.39%. The districtwide figures may change as additional votes are reported.
Stevens, 51, has worked in banking and farming and owns a land title agency. He previously served for 10 years on the county Board of Elections and was director of public affairs for the Ohio secretary of state.
Ahead of the election, Stevens identified property taxes and education among his priorities. He said he supports reducing the size of state government and using technology and improved management to cut spending.
“If residents of this House district are asked to pay more at every turn, we owe it to them to make every dollar count more than ever,” he said in response to a candidate questionnaire.
