Elyria voters approved their school district's first new operating levy in 16 years, backing the measure with 52% of the vote. The result came as Ohio Democrats secured major victories in the governor's race and U.S. Senate contest, while voters across Northeast Ohio delivered mixed decisions on school funding, road repairs and speed cameras.
The Elyria levy is expected to provide more than $11.5 million annually for everyday district expenses, including staffing, electricity and other student education needs. The superintendent said the funding would help preserve athletics, clubs and advanced classes. In Barberton, however, voters rejected the school district's proposed 1% income tax, with 62% opposing Issue 5. It was the district's second unsuccessful funding request this year, following a failed property tax levy in May.
Barberton schools entered fiscal emergency in September after making $7 million in cuts earlier in the year, including reductions involving dozens of teachers and teacher's aides. The district said the latest levy defeat means further cuts will be necessary.
In statewide races, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine. Her victory gives Democrats the governor's office for the first time in 20 years. DeWine hired Acton as state health director seven years ago, making her his final cabinet appointment at the time. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown also won his race against Jon Husted, securing a return to Washington and flipping the Senate seat.
Affordability concerns, fueled by trade wars and the war in Iran, weighed on Republican candidates. Ramaswamy also faced controversy over a campaign advertisement and offered conciliatory remarks after his defeat. Meanwhile, reporting problems in Lucas County, which includes Toledo, delayed its results until after 1:30 a.m. Those votes substantially affected the statewide contests for attorney general, secretary of state, auditor and treasurer. Democrat Allison Russo won secretary of state. As of Wednesday morning, November 4, the treasurer and attorney general races remained too close to call. Only a few thousand votes separated the attorney general candidates, a margin that would trigger a statewide recount if it held.
Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union iron worker from Brook Park, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Max Miller in Ohio's 7th Congressional District. Speaking at a Parma watch party shortly after 11:30 p.m., Poindexter said, "we just won a seat in Congress." He pledged to represent working people and district residents regardless of whether they voted for him. Miller conceded on social media.
Ohio voters also approved Issue 3 with 66% support, placing the state's voter identification requirement in the Ohio Constitution. Identification is already required under state law, but constitutional protection will make the requirement harder to change.
In Avon Lake, voters narrowly rejected Issue 16, a proposed 0.4% local income tax increase, by 51% to about 49%. City Council President Geoffrey Smith said it could have generated $6 million for deteriorating roads. He put needed repairs at $40 million and said funding for those repairs would not be in the city budget following the defeat.
Smithville voters supported repealing the village's speed cameras, with 71% voting for removal. Three sets of cameras were installed in school zones last year. Business owners said in July that customers were avoiding the village, while residents said they had lacked a voice in the installations. The repeal takes effect after election results are certified.
