Republican Wins Special House Election In Ohio; Same Dance Happening in November

By Andrea Ruth | 6:00 PM on August 24, 2018

The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com.

FILE – In this Aug. 4, 2018, file photo, Ohio state Sen. Troy Balderson, left, the Republican candidate running to succeed former Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi in Ohio’s 12th District, clasps hands with President Donald Trump as Balderson speaks during a rally at Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio. It’s rare two candidates for a coveted open congressional seat get a do-over, but after Balderson and Franklin County, Ohio, Recorder Danny O'Connor, the Democratic candidate, fought to a razor-thin finish in the Aug. 7, 2018, special election to fill the final months of Tiberi’s unexpired term, the two again face off in the Nov. 6, 2018, general election to win a full, two-year term. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Following more than two weeks of counting provisional and absentee ballots in the close race for Ohio’s 12th congressional district, there is finally an official winner. Trump-endorsed Republican Troy Balderson managed to hold the seat for the GOP against Democrat Danny O’Connor.

In a statement released upon the announcement, Balderson said he is “humbled by the support I’ve received from voters and look forward to representing Ohio’s 12th Congressional district in Congress.”

However, the special election is only good until the general election in November, when Balderson and O’Connor will face off once again.

This is particularly concerning as talk of the Democrats taking over the House looks closer to being a reality as Election Day approaches. In a district where Trump won by 11 percentage points in 2016, that O’Connor was able to get so close is surely a bad sign for Republicans. If Democrats are able to pick off enough seats to gain a majority, the idea of Trump being ceremoniously impeached will surely be on the table.

So, while we’ve seen the end of one election circus, the poor people in Ohio-12 are in for another inundation of politics and get-out0-the-vote efforts until polls close on Nov. 6.