Vol. 132 - No. 466 Tuesday, November 6, 2018 In Victory Speech, DeWine Calls for Ohioans to Unite to Solve Problems The people of Ohio need to work together to address the state's issues regardless of party affiliation, Gov.-elect Mike DeWine said following his victory over Democrat Richard Cordray Tuesday night. "As we begin this journey tonight, we must work not as Democrats, not as Republicans, but as Ohioans," DeWine told supporters at the Ohio Republican Party's election night party in Columbus. "Ohioans should unite around a shared mission to ensure that every single person in this state - every child, no matter where they're born, no matter who their parents are, no matter what their circumstances -- has the opportunity to live up to their God-given potential. ... "As governor, it will be my responsibility, and a responsibility that I take very seriously, to pull people together -- Democrats, Republicans and Independents -- for our common cause, because Ohio's challenges ... are not solvable just by one party," DeWine continued. "Our fundamental beliefs and core values as Ohioans, what we share together truly transcends party politics." DeWine, the current attorney general, ended up winning the governor's race with 50.66 percent of the vote, beating Cordray's 46.44 percent, according to unofficial results. Libertarian Party candidate Travis Irvine finished with 1.79 percent, while Green Party candidate Constance Gadell-Newton received 1.1 percent. DeWine said his next administration will work to improve the state's schools, address drug addiction and create jobs. "Come with us as we make Ohio's schools the best in the nation. Come with us as we help Ohio's sons and daughters who suffer from the disease of addiction and whose purpose in life has been interrupted by opioids, alcohol and other drugs. Come with us as we double down on the Mexican drug cartels that are wreaking havoc in the state of Ohio. Come with us as we put more Ohioans to work, and make this state the biggest jobs generator in America, and truly make Ohio the state of opportunity," DeWine said. DeWine praised running mate Jon Husted, saying the lieutenant governor-elect will play an "absolutely major role" in the administration. "When Jon and I and Tina and Fran got together for breakfast a number of months ago, it led to this day. We put our teams together. We put our passions together. We knew we were going to have a very difficult race. But I can tell you this, as someone who has served as lieutenant governor of this state, that in Jon Husted we have the most qualified person we could have," DeWine said. DeWine said he received a "very gracious" concession call from Cordray. "He fought a tough race ... about as tough as I want. I salute him for that. I wish him and his wife Peggy all the best. He is a talented person who I know in the future will continue to serve and continue to give back to the people of the state of Ohio," DeWine said. Cordray spent most of his concession speech thanking the volunteers and campaign staff workers, calling them "the nerds we need in Ohio." 132nd General Assembly The Hannah Report He said the race was never personal for him, and said DeWine has always been a dedicated public servant, adding that he hopes DeWine will be a dedicated servant for all Ohioans. Cordray said he believes the work of his campaign has changed the conversation "in ways that improve lives" and will help elevate the conversation "in a way that will help all of us." "While outspent, we proved that no amount of money can silence our voice," he told supporters. Cordray running mate Betty Sutton said that despite the outcome, she will never stop fighting for issues that matter to her, and she knows their supporters will not stop fighting either. Sherrod Brown Wins Third Term; No Ohio Congressional Seats Flip U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown won a third term to the U.S. Senate by nearly 6 percentage points over U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, a closer margin than many polls had predicted but a large enough victory to be one of the early winners of the night. Brown took the stage at the Ohio Democratic Party celebration in Columbus, telling the crowd that showing the dignity of work like his race did is the model for how Democrats win in the Midwest and in 2020. "When you love this country, you fight for the people who make it work," Brown told the crowd. "The hard-working men and women of Ohio voted to continue our fight together for six more years." Brown said his race shows that progressives "can win, and win decisively in the heartland." "Tonight, Ohio, you showed the country that by putting people first and by honoring the dignity of work, we can carry a state Donald Trump won by nearly 10 points," Brown said. "And you showed that we do it without compromising on women's rights or civil rights or LGBTQ rights. We do it without caving to Wall Street or the drug companies or the gun lobby." He said progressives celebrate the dignity of work and as they celebrate, they should unify and not divide, and not "appeal to some by pushing others down" or lie and engage in hate speech. "This is our America," Brown said. "We will never yield the hallowed ground of patriotism to the extremists -- at the Statehouse and in the White House." In a statement on social media, Renacci thanked his supporters. "Things may not have gone as we wanted tonight, but I hope that you will continue fighting for the things you believe in. I wish Sen. Brown the best in his efforts to support all Ohioans," he said. Renacci also lobbed criticism in his concession speech at the "loudest voice in the state" that does not support President Trump. He went on to say he stands with the president and the party must pull together. Meanwhile, all of Ohio's 16 U.S. House districts will stay in the same party's hands after Election Night. U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville), who saw his August race decided during the tallying of provisional ballots, won't have to wait this time after getting nearly 52 percent of the vote to Democrat Danny O'Connor's 47 percent. In his concession speech, O'Connor wished Balderson well and said there needs to be a good faith effort toward unity. The only other close race came in the 1st Congressional District, where U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Cincinnati) won re- election with 52 percent over Democrat Aftab Pureval's 46 percent. Chabot has held the seat since 2011 and previously held November 7, 2018 Hannah News Service - 2 132nd General Assembly The Hannah Report it from 1995 through 2009. Chabot serves on the U.S. House foreign affairs, judiciary and small business committees. This was the first national contest for Pureval, the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts. Democrats who raised large amounts of money in other districts, including Ken Harbaugh in the 7th Congressional District, Betsy Rader in the 14th, and Theresa Gasper in the 10th, came nowhere close to ousting the incumbent. The congressional delegation will get a new face after former Ohio State University football standout and Republican Anthony Gonzales won Renacci's congressional seat with nearly 57 percent of the vote. In other races: - Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ashland) defeated Democratic challenger Harbaugh 59 percent to 41 percent. Gibbs was first elected to Congress in 2010 after serving in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate as well as president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. He sits on the House agriculture and transportation and infrastructure committees. Harbaugh, a U.S. Navy veteran, is the former president of international aid organization Team Rubicon Global. - Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-Dayton) beat Democratic challenger Gasper 56 percent to 42 percent. Turner, the former mayor of Dayton, has since served eight terms in the U.S. House. He sits of the U.S. House armed services and oversight and government reform committees. Gasper is a businesswoman, property-developer and president of Full Circle Development in Dayton. This was her first political campaign. - Incumbent U.S. Rep. David Joyce (R-Twinsburg) defeated Rader 55 percent to 45 percent. Joyce, formerly a prosecutor in Geauga County, will be entering his fourth term in Congress. He sits on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee and the Republican Study Committee. Rader is an attorney who has worked with institutions like the Cleveland Clinic and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). She previously served on the board of Cleveland Legal Aid. - Incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Hilliard) defeated Democrat Rick Neal 59 percent to 40 percent. Stivers, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee and a former Ohio senator, will be entering his fifth term in Congress. He sits on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee. Neal is a former humanitarian worker who has worked with organizations like the Peace Corps and Refugees International. Republicans Sweep Statewide Executive Offices In addition to winning the governor's mansion, Republicans retained control of all other statewide executive offices on Tuesday night. Auditor Dave Yost won the attorney general race 52.42 percent to 47.58 percent over Democrat Steve Dettelbach; Rep. Keith Faber (R-Celina) won with auditor race with 49.93 percent of the vote, beating Democrat Zack Space's 46.05 percent and Libertarian Robert Coogan's 4.02 percent; Sen.