Pro-CCW majority add seats in Ohio General Assembly
Democrats picked up several open seats in the House but were unable - despite predictions by both parties - to take any bite out of the GOP's strong majority. Democrats actually lost ground to the Republicans in the House. The GOP will dominate the House by 62-37. The margin now is 59-40.
And by gaining one seat in the Senate, Republicans secured an important procedural advantage: the two-thirds majority. With it, Republicans voting in concert could waive rules that require three days for a bill to be approved, as well as enact emergency clauses without Democratic support.
Commentary by Chad D. Baus:
The veto-proof pro-CCW majority in the Ohio House has been increased, as has the pro-CCW majority in the Senate. Eight pro-CCW House Democrats, supported by the OFCC PAC, were elected (perhaps the traditionally anti-CCW Democrat party will take note)!
The biggest upset of the evening was the apparent defeat of veteran Sen. Michael Shoemaker, a Democrat whose southern Ohio district had been altered by redistricting. Shoemaker, the son of a former Ohio lieutenant governor, lost his seat to term-limited state Rep. John Carey Jr. after an expensive fight.
House Democrats Wayne Coates, Ron Rhine and Joe Sulzer also lost. House Speaker Larry Householder attributed the victorious night to "great candidates, a good message, and the resources to get the message out."
Incumbent senators David Goodman and Tom Roberts, a Republican and Democrat respectively who had both been appointed midterm, retained their seats against tough opposition. Democrats were also unsuccessful in challenges to Northeast Ohio incumbent Sens. Jeffry Armbruster of North Ridgeville or Kevin Coughlin of Cuyahoga Falls.
Of four Senate seats up for grabs because of term limits, all four were retained by the same party, including the Cincinnati-area district being vacated by Senate President Richard Finan.
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