Ohio state senator retains GOP hold on open U.S. House seat

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A two-term state lawmaker who was backed by President Donald Trump but who also promoted his ties to Trump critic Gov. John Kasich won a previously deadlocked congressional special election in Ohio, retaining a coveted open U.S. House seat long held by Republicans.

State Sen. Troy Balderson, of Zanesville, was certified Friday as the voters’ pick over Democrat Danny O’Connor, the Franklin County recorder, in Ohio’s sprawling 12th District. He’ll complete the unexpired term of former long-time U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi, a Republican who retired in January.

After final absentee and provisional ballots were counted, Balderson defeated O’Connor by 1,680 votes — a mere 0.8-percent margin in a district Trump won by 11 points two years ago. The result fell a few hundred votes outside the margin that would have triggered an automatic recount.

Balderson said he was humbled by the victory.

“Danny O’Connor ran a hard-fought race,” he said, “but I look forward to earning the support of voters for a fourth time in November as I share my track record of getting things done for Ohioans.”

Balderson and O’Connor, who’s from Columbus, must face off again for the full twoyear term representing a meandering central Ohio district that stretches from Democratheavy Columbus into Trump-supporting suburban and rural areas north and east of Columbus.