Holmes County voters see few close contests in primary

Turnout was sparse in Holmes County to vote in the May 5 primary. Nonetheless, few nominations were hotly contested, with one ending in a tie but most in landslides.

A total of 3,165 ballots were cast, or about 18.2% of 17,417 registered voters. Of those, 2,635 voted in the Republican primary, 503 in the Democratic and 15 in the Libertarian.

Area voters liked billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy to be the Republican nominee for governor. He got 75.67% of the local vote and did even better on the state front, garnering 82.5%. Amy Acton won the Democratic race unopposed.

In the race for Democratic attorney general candidate, John J. Kulewicz only beat Elliot Forhan by 37 votes, but that produced a comfortable 11% margin. Kulewicz, who got 63% of the vote overall, will face unopposed Republican winner Keith Faber in the fall.

For secretary of state, 70% of locals and voters statewide chose Robert Sprague over Marcell Strbich for the Republican nominee. Allison Russon got 68% of the vote locally and 67% statewide and beat Bryan Hambley for the Democratic nod.

In the race for treasurer, locals favored Jay Edwards over his Republican counterpart Kristina Roegner by about 59-41, compared to 53-47 statewide. Edwards will face unopposed Democratic winner Seth Walsh in November.

For justice of the Supreme Court, Daniel Hawkins got the nod in his uncontested race and will face Marilyn Zayas in the fall. Andrew King got 33% locally to win a four-candidate race for a contested seat but only got 29% statewide and lost to Collen O’Donnell for the nominee for the second available seat, and will take on unopposed winner Jennifer Brunner.

John Husted is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate. He will square off with Democrat Sherrod Brown in the fall. Brown faced little opposition and got 89% of the vote. Husted was not opposed.

In the Republican race for U.S. representative (6th District), Michael A. Rulli got 161 votes to 72 for Jullie Kelley locally and won with 76% statewide. For the Democrats, Elizabeth Kirtley topped a three-person race with 31.5% of the vote. Locally, Kirtley and Adrian Vitus got 11 votes apiece.

Democrat Jarrad Christian got 46% of the vote locally and statewide in a three-man race for the 12th District representative to Congress. He will face Republican winner Troy Balderson, who ran unopposed.

In one of the tighter races, the Republican nomination for state senator (19th District) went to Ryan Rivers, who won over Beth Lear with less than 52% of the vote statewide. A 65-35 margin in Holmes County helped that outcome. Janet Wagner ran unopposed among Dems.

A four-woman Republican race for member of the State Central Committee, Woman (19th District), saw Rebecca Nourse get about 45% of the vote to hold off Janine Baker, who got 28%. On the Democratic side, Mary Rugola-Dye won unopposed.

In the Democratic race for the State Central Committee, Man (19th District), Joydeep Gupta edged Ryan Wynia 52-48% statewide; Wynia was the favorite in Holmes County. Gupta joins unopposed Republican Gary James on the victory stand.

In the race for 5th District Court of Appeals judge, Matthew George edged Matt Donahue 45-41% in a three-man race. Donahue got 49% of the Holmes County vote. No Democratic petition was filed.

In the Republican battle for county commissioner, Dave Hall got 61% of the vote to easily beat Tom Abraham. No Democratic petition was filed.

Holmes voters were in favor of every issue on the ballot. Those included local liquor options and/or Sunday sales at Rhode’s IGA Super Center, Millersburg Mart and Monroe Township Bell Stores. Locals also said yes to a 1.7-mill tax renewal in Loudonville Village by an 8-4 count. The levy passed overall, 262-186.