ELECTION UPDATE | US Rep. Tim Ryan cruises to easy win

WASHINGTON, D. C. - The Associated Press has called Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland the victor over perennial GOP candidate Thomas Pekarek of Cleveland.

AP called the race less than half an hour after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m.

In early voting, Ryan led with 74 percent of the vote.

Ryan, 41, has represented the district that includes Mahoning County and parts of Portage, Summit, Stark and Trumbull counties since 2003.

Pekarek, who does not live in the district, says he filed for the seat to keep Ryan from being unopposed.