Strickland secures three-way Democratic primary

March 16, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman will face former Gov. Ted Strickland in November, after voters picked the latter in a three-way Democratic primary Tuesday night.

Strickland got 66 percent of the votes, well over the 21 percent for Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld and 12 percent for Cincinnati resident Kelli Prather, with 81 percent of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the secretary of state’s office.

In a statement, Strickland thanked Ohio Democrats and his opponents and vowed to continue to confront Portman.

“I am running to fight for Ohio’s working people because that’s where I came from, that’s who I care about, and that’s who I will stand up for in the U.S. Senate,” he said. “Hardworking Ohioans are getting a raw deal: Wages are staying flat while costs are rising, unfair trade deals are shipping our jobs to places like China, higher education is increasingly out of reach, and too many worry that retirement is a luxury they’ll never be able to afford. My agenda is to confront these challenges and fight for economic fairness.”

Sittenfeld conceded, offering in a released statement, “Even though we didn’t win, I believe our campaign truly mattered, and I believe we truly made a difference.”

Portman easily outpaced challenger Don Elijah Eckhart in the Republican primary, receiving nearly 82 percent of the vote with 81 percent of precincts reporting, according to unofficial results.

Also vying for Portman’s seat: Green Party candidate Joseph DeMare, a factory worker from Bowling Green. He was uncontested.

Appeals Court Judge Pat Fischer (1st District) was ahead of Appeals Court Judge Colleen O’Toole (11th District) in early results.

If that results holds, Fischer will face Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John P. O’Donnell in November. O’Donnell ran unsuccessfully against Justice Judith French two years ago.

Appeals Court Judge Pat DeWine (1st District), a Republican who is also son of Attorney General Mike DeWine, will face Appeals Court Judge Cynthia Rice (11th District), a Democrat, for another Ohio Supreme Court seat. Both were uncontested Tuesday night.

There are three high court races in November (incumbent Justices Paul Pfeifer and Judith Ann Lanzinger are not eligible for additional terms). Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor was uncontested in the primary and has no Democratic opponent in the general election.