10 things you should know about election results


November 6, 2014 at 12:02a.m.

By Marc Kovac

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

Here are 10 things you should know about Tuesday’s election and results:

  1. Turnout: As expected, turnout lagged past even-year elections.

A total of about 3 million of 7.7 million registered voters cast ballots. That’s about 39.6 percent of the electorate, compared to about 71 percent in 2012, 49 percent in 2010, 70 percent in 2008 and 53 percent in 2006.

  1. Early Voting Totals: More than 700,000 eligible residents cast early ballots this year, including 671,186 absentees sent through the mail and 140,441 submitted in person at early voting sites.

  2. Steamrolled: Governor: Kasich rolled through most of the state, winning 86 of 88 counties.

The list included his opponent’s home county, Cuyahoga, which generally sides with Democratic candidates.

On Tuesday, the Cleveland area picked Kasich, 51 percent-44 percent.

  1. Margins: If the unofficial results hold true, Kasich will have won by more than 30 percentage points — 64 percent-33 percent.

It’s the biggest gubernatorial victory since George Voinovich’s 47-point blowout of Rob Burch in 1994.

In contrast, Kasich topped former Gov. Ted Strickland four years ago by two percentage points, 49 percent-47 percent.

  1. Presidential Run? Kasich’s wide margin of victory likely will increase speculation about his intentions to seek the presidency in 2016.

He deflected questions on that topic during the campaign, saying simply that he was focused on running for governor.

  1. Vote Totals: Kasich received the highest number of votes among statewide candidates, 1.9 million.

Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine was second with close to 1.9 million, defeating Democrat David Pepper 62 percent-38-percent, according to the unofficial results.

  1. Going Green: Green Party gubernatorial candidate Anita Rios accomplished what she set out to do Tuesday night: secure a place on the ballot in the future for members of her party.

She needed to snag 2 percent of the vote to meet state requirements, and she received 3.3 percent, or about 99,402 votes.

  1. Legislature: Republicans expanded their majority in the Ohio House, adding five seats to their existing 60-member majority and maintaining their existing super majority in the Senate, according to the unofficial results.

  2. Familiar Names and Faces: Some familiar faces are returning to the Legislature.

Republican Robert Cupp, who lost in his re-election bid to the Supreme Court two years ago, easily won District 4, which includes Allen County.

Republican Tom Brinkman Jr., who left the House in 2009 due to term limits, coasted into a seat representing a Cincinnati-area district.

Former state Rep. Kenny Yuko, a Democrat, won a seat in the Ohio Senate.

  1. Local Issues: Voters OK’d 105 of 162 school tax issues, according to a count by the Ohio School Boards Association. Voters also approved 31 of 34 library issues, according to the Ohio Library Council.