Ohio House up for grabs

Democrats focused their campaigns on what they say they have done with the governor.

COLUMBUS (AP) — In 2006, Democrats regained the governor’s office for the first time in 16 years. Now they’re shooting for the Ohio House.

Democrats needed to capture four Republican seats Tuesday to win House control for the first time since Vern Riffe ended his 20-year reign as Speaker in 1994.

Republicans, meanwhile, were on track to keep their 21-12 margin in the Senate.

The fight turned on about a dozen key races out of the 99-seat House. Each party picked up open seats held by the other party, with Democrat John Carney defeating Republican Michael Keenan in the 22nd district and Republican Cheryl Grossman beating Democrat Keith Goldhardt in the 23rd district, according to returns based on unofficial results.

Democrats focused their campaigns on what they say they have done with Gov. Ted Strickland to help the middle class — a tuition freeze at state universities and colleges for two years, expanded health care for children, and an energy bill that avoids huge price increases while requiring more reliance on renewable energy.

Republicans say those policies could not have been approved without a GOP-controlled Legislature.

Among the key races was the 20th District in Franklin County where Democrat Nancy Garland, the executive director of the Ohio Physical Therapy Association, was winning narrowly against Rep. Jim McGregor, a Republican who won re-election by just 400 votes in 2006. Garland was winning with 52 percent of the vote, with 35 percent of the vote counted, according to unofficial results.

In Cuyahoga County, Westlake City Councilwoman Nan Baker challenged Democrat Jennifer Brady, who is in her first term, in a district that voted 61 percent Republican in 2004. Baker narrowly led, according to early returns.

In the 28th District in Hamilton County, Democrats went after a seat that Republican Jim Raussen gave up to double his salary and take a job with the Strickland administration as director of insurance and financial development. Democrat Connie Pillich, who lost by only 1,600 votes to Raussen two years ago, narrowly led Sharonville Mayor Virgil Lovitt with 50.2 percent of the vote with 74 percent of the vote counted.

In the Senate, 13 of the 16 seats up for election were held by Republicans. Democrats had believed they could pick up three seats.

Among the races being watched was the 10th District east of Dayton, where Republican state Rep. Chris Widener won easily with 60 percent of the vote against Democrat Roger Tackett, a longtime Clark County commissioner.

The House, with a 53-46 GOP advantage, came into play this year after Democrats picked up seven seats there and one in the Senate to close the gap in 2006.