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Two incumbent U.S. House members won their primaries
YOUNGSTOWN
Seven-term U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13th, and Democrat Jennifer Garrison in the 6th Congressional District crushed their primary opponents while freshman U.S. Rep. David Joyce, R-14th, defeated a state representative with all three setting their sites on the Nov. 4 general election.
Ryan of Howland easily beat John Stephen Luchansky of Boardman, who did no campaigning in his third attempt to get elected to Congress, in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. Ryan received 85 percent of the vote in the district, according to unofficial totals from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, including 84 percent in Trumbull County and 85 percent in Mahoning County.
“I’m really excited; those are great numbers in a Democratic primary,” Ryan said. “It speaks to the hard work we’re doing in the district. I’m excited for the next two years with additive manufacturing and economic development growth.”
Ryan faces Republican Thomas Pekarek of Cleveland, who ran as a write-in Tuesday in his party’s primary. Pekarek has unsuccessfully run for numerous elected offices including three congressional bids.
The heavily Democratic 13th District includes much of Mahoning and Trumbull counties as well as portions of Summit, Portage and Stark counties.
In the 6th District’s Democratic primary, Garrison of Marietta, a former three-term state House member, had little trouble beating Gregory D. Howard of New Albany, an organic farmer running for elected office for the first time. Garrison got 73 percent of the vote, according to unofficial totals, including 73 percent in Columbiana County and 74 percent in Mahoning County.
“The results [Tuesday] reflect what I’ve heard throughout the campaign: voters are looking for a representative who has a record of bringing people together to achieve results, in both the public and the private sector, and who is ready to go to Washington to stand up for the seniors and working families of this district,” Garrison said.
Garrison will face two-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, a Republican from Marietta, and Dennis G. Lambert, a Green Party candidate from Pedro, in the November election.
The 18-county 6th District— which includes all of Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning County — is considered a Republican district. GOP Mitt Romney beating President Barack Obama, a Democrat, by 12.6 percentage points in the 6th in the 2012 presidential election. Johnson beat Democrat Charlie Wilson by 6.5 percent that same year.
Joyce’s primary was the closest of the three with him beating state Rep. Matt Lynch of Bainbridge by about 10 percentage points on Tuesday, according to unofficial totals. He won by about 5 percentage points in Trumbull County.
“Now is the time for the party to unite, because the general election will provide a clear contrast,” Joyce said.
Joyce of Russell, who served 24 years as Geauga County prosecutor before being elected to Congress in 2012, raised $1.55 million and spent about $800,000 for this campaign compared to about $80,000 raised and $30,000 spent for Lynch.
Joyce will face Democrat Michael Wager of Moreland Hills and Libertarian David Macko of Solon in the November general election.
The Republican congressional district, which Romney won by 3.4 percentage points in 2012, includes all of Ashtabula, Lake and Geauga counties and portions of Cuyahoga, Portage and Summit counties as well as 11 northern townships in Trumbull County.