Lucas County stays blue as Ohio turns dark red
Story and photos by Lori King
TOLEDO – As Ohio, and much of the country, awoke this morning to a red wave, it was a different story for the blue dot that is Lucas County.
The mood at the democratic watch party inside the UAW Local 12 Union Hall on Tuesday night was mostly cheerful as hundreds of supporters and elected officials celebrated each time a local democrat claimed victory, or a local issue passed, like Issue 9, the Toledo mayoral term limit expansion.
But, at times, there were bouts of somber silence as they watched Issue 1 fail and realized businessman Bernie Moreno was going to defeat populist Sherrod Brown.
Earlier in the evening, when the numbers were favoring Brown, democratic volunteer Krista Schneider enthusiastically passed out dozens of handheld signs that read ‘Reelect Sherrod Brown.’
“Love, life and moving away from hatred,” she proclaimed as she handed out the placards in support of the union-friendly Brown, who was at a different watch party at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Columbus Convention Center Hotel in Columbus.
Standing nearby was Michele Grim, and as she took a Brown handsign, she said “he’s with us in spirit and in our hearts and minds.” Grim, who was running for an reelection bid to serve in the 43rd House District, securing that seat.
Also present inside the union hall were winners of their local elections: Toledo city council at-large newcomer Mac Driscoll, winning by a resounding 70 percent; Lucas County commissioner Pete Gerken; Lucas County Common Pleas judge Ken Walz; Lucas County State Rep. Grim; and Erika White, who will take the seat for the state’s 41st District.
One of the more celebratory moments was when Driscoll toasted to his victory with Ruffino Lumina Prosecco in clear plastic cups.
Expected to arrive later in the evening was Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, 78. Kaptur is serving her 21st term and battling the race of her political career against Derek Merrin. Merrin’s political career began in 2005 when he was elected to the Waterville city council. He was just 19, becoming the Waterville mayor two years later.
But, at 11:30 p.m., UAW Local 14 President Tony Totty walked up to the podium and announced to the dwindling audience that she wasn’t going to make an appearance.
As of the publishing of this story, the race between Kaptur and Merrin for U.S. House of Representative Ohio District 9 is still too close to call. Both are tied at 48 percent, though Kaptur has a 1,193 vote lead.
For complete election results, go to WTOL Election 2024.
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