May 2010 Primary Election Results


Third Frontier and Human Services levy win voter approval;
money issues overcome a difficult election environment

In an election season characterized by anti-government rallies and the rise of the Tea Party, Ohioans gave the green light in the May 4 Primary Election to a host of money issues, including an extension of the state's Third Frontier program. Statewide, officials reported a 22 percent turnout for the election.

  • State Issue 1: Ohio Third Frontier

Issue 1, which authorized $700 million in bonds to extend the Ohio Third Frontier program to 2016, passed by a 62-38 percent margin and was approved in 78 of the state's 88 counties. Renewal of the Third Frontier was a key priority for the Greater Cleveland Partnership and our partner organizations. Credited with the creation of 55,000 new jobs in Ohio since its inception, the Third Frontier is one of the state’s most successful economic development programs and has had a particularly important impact here in Northeast Ohio.

  • State Issue 2: Relocation of the Columbus casino

The other statewide question before voters, Issue 2, which passed by a margin of 68-32 percent, authorizes the move of the casino in Columbus from the downtown Arena District to the site of the former Delphi Parts Plant on the city's west side.

  • Issue 15 Cuyahoga County Human Services Levy

The Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services levy renewal was also a big winner. Not only will this assure the continuation of important services to the residents of the county, it also puts the issue to rest in advance of the new Cuyahoga County government that will be seated in January 2011.

  • U.S. Senate and Congressional  races

Democrats nominated Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher of Cleveland, who defeated Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner by a 55-45 percent margin, to carry their party's banner in the fall U.S. Senate election against Republican Rob Portman of Cincinnati.

A cliff hanger was in the 18th Congressional District, where State Senator Bob Gibbs (R-Lakeville) appears to have won the Republican nomination to oppose first-term Congressman Zack Space in November. Cleveland auto dealer Tom Ganley, who originally sought the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, emerged victorious from a six-way race to win the right to face Democratic Congresswoman Betty Sutton in the state's 13th Congressional District race this fall. Click below for more results.

 The GCP would like to acknowledge and thank the staff of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey for their contribution to this report.