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Thank You! The OSBA is grateful to our friends at Squire, Patton Boggs for giving us permission to share their post-election analysis with our membership. We’ll have more information to come in the days and weeks ahead including how the results will impact the OSBA’s public policy efforts. President Trump Wins State Comfortably, Ohio Republicans Have Strong Night Although it’s too soon to call the Presidential Election between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden nationally, Trump was able to handily secure Ohio’s 18 electoral votes in a victory echoing his win in 2016. Ohio shattered past records for early voting turnout, with more than 3.4 million ballots cast by mail or in-person by the end of early voting on Monday. Secretary of State data showed that this year’s turnout was 180 percent of the previously early vote record, and equaled 60 percent of the total votes cast in 2016. President Trump drew support from areas he dominated in 2016 including Southeast Appalachia, blue-collar workers in the Northwest and taking votes from traditionally Democratic strongholds throughout the state. Although he realized slightly less support from suburban voters, turnout held steady and grew in counties that went heavily for Trump in 2016, boosting his vote total. In addition to the Presidential contest, all sixteen incumbent Members of Congress were successful in re-election efforts as Ohio Congressional representation remains at 12-4 in favor of Republicans. Ohio Supreme Court Races Split Republicans headed into the evening holding a 5-2 majority in the Court, and finished with a majority intact, but split the contested races as Democrats picked up a seat to narrow Republican control to 4-3. Tenth District Court of Appeals Judge Jennifer Brunner (D-Columbus) defeated Justice Judith French (R- Grandview Heights) and Justice Sharon Kennedy (R-Liberty Twp.) held off a challenge by Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge John O’Donnell (D-Cleveland). Interestingly, both races were won by about 55 to 45 percent margins. With the GOP majority now at just 4-3 compared to majorities of 7-0, 6-1, and 5-2 in the recent past, all focus turns to the 2022 race for Chief Justice and control of the Court. Ohio House Republicans Add to Majority Republicans expanded their already strong majorities in the House and Senate. Subject to a recount in any seat with a margin of victory of less than one-half of one percent of the vote, House Republicans appear to have picked up three seats and will at least hold a 64-35 majority. A brief examination of the results shows that Republicans are rapidly increasing strength in rural areas of the state while Democrats are slowly gaining ground in the suburbs. Below are highlights of some of the races and the attached addendum includes all 99 House seats and 16 Senate races. Speaker Bob Cupp (R-Lima) will look to build his leadership team heading into the 134th General Assembly after a strong election night. • House District 16 – Democrat Monique Smith (D-Fairview Park) appears to have defeated incumbent Republican Dave Greenspan (R-Westlake) in this Northeast Ohio suburban seat. • House District 63 – Republican Mike Loychik (R-Cortland) defeated Representative Gail Blair (D-Mineral Ridge) in Eastern Ohio. • House District 75 – Republican Gail Pavliga (R-Atwater) appears to have upset incumbent Democrat Rep. Randi Clites (D-Ravenna). • House District 96 – Republicans comfortably flipped this rural Eastern Ohio seat as Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville) upended Todd Beegle (D-Dover). • House District 99 – Republican Sarah Fowler (R-Rock Creek) reclaimed this far Northeast Ohio district for the GOP by defeating Richard Dana (D-Austinburg). GOP Potentially Adds One Seat in Republican Dominated Senate In the Ohio Senate, Republicans will have at least a 24-9 majority and perhaps a 25-8 advantage after the final tally. The GOP defended several hotly contested seats and picked up a traditionally strong Democratic seat. Senate Majority Floor Leader Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is expected to assume the role of Senate President in the 134th General Assembly. • Senate District 16 –Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) leads Crystal Lett (D-Hilliard) by a razor thin margin of 41 votes out of over two hundred thousand votes cast in this suburban Franklin County district that has long been a target for Democrats. • Senate District 18 – In this open seat held by term-limited Senator John Eklund (R-Chardon), popular county commissioner Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) soundly defeated Democrat Betsy Rader (D-Novelty) up in Lake County. • Senate District 24 – Republican Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, overcame the much-anticipated suburban blue wave to defeat Tom Jackson (D-Solon) in Northeast Ohio. • Senate District 32 – Republicans picked up a seat in Eastern Ohio as Republican challenger Sandy O’Brien (R-Rome) upset Sen. Sean O’Brien (D-Hubbard). 2021 Policy Agenda on Deck Perhaps the most important question is how the results of tonight’s election will shape public policy on energy, education, environment, health care, and of course, the economy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 134th General Assembly and the DeWine Administration will wrestle with all of these challenging issues. One thing is for certain - there will be no shortage of policy discussions occurring in Ohio over the next several months. We look forward to working on these issues and as always, do not hesitate to contact us with any specific items of importance to you. Alex Shumate T +1 614 365 2739 E [email protected] Timothy J. Cosgrove T +1 216 479 8562 E [email protected] Nathanael J. Jonhenry T +1 614 365 2857 E [email protected] Claire M. Bennett T +1 614 365 2756 E [email protected] Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP is part of the international legal practice Squire Patton Boggs, which operates worldwide through a number of separate legal entities. Please visit www.squirepattonboggs.com for more information. .

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