2022 Midterm Elections Live Blog

From NPR:

"As ballot counting continues across the country, Democrats remain in the fight to hold onto a majority in Congress.

"But as Night 1 comes to a close, maintaining Democratic control of the House of Representatives remains unlikely."

Read more ➡️

Meanwhile, "despite polls and reports that have suggested a commanding red wave on election night, Republican gains could look more like a ripple."

Read more ➡️

From WVXU Reporter Ann Thompson:

From our news partner WCPO:

"Constitutional Amendment 2 failed Tuesday night, allowing abortion to remain a constitutional right in Kentucky.

"ABC News projected the amendment failed at around midnight, with the ACLU of Kentucky declaring victory. Around 53% of Kentuckians had voted against the amendment with 91% of precincts reporting."

Read the latest >>

In his concession speech, Tim Ryan said he had "the privilege to concede this race" to his Republican opponent J.D. Vance.

"Because the way this country operates is that when you lose an election, you concede and you respect ... the will of the people," he said to applause. "We can't have a system where if you win, it's a legitimate election and if you lose, someone stole it."

Issue 11 was introduced by Mayor Aftab Pureval along with two City Council members. With about 95% of precincts reporting, the measure is ahead with 80.48% of the vote.

The pocket veto was an unintended loophole of charter language that allows the mayor to indefinitely postpone legislation, effectively killing it without any discussion.

Eliminating the pocket veto was one recommendation of the Charter Review Task Force of 2015. The amendment on the ballot this year gives the mayor more time than recommended to refer legislation. That timeline was a point of disagreement as Council considered sending the amendment to the ballot.

Read the full story ->

Republican Sharon Kennedy has won her bid to be the next chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court after defeating Democrat Jennifer Brunner in a race that can be pivotal for future court decisions.

Incumbent Republican justices Pat Fischer and Pat DeWine also won their bids for re-election against Democratic challengers Terri Jamison, of the Tenth District Court of Appeals, and Marilyn Zayas, of the First District Court of Appeals.

That means Republicans will continue to have a 4-3 majority on the bench.

Read the full story

Meanwhile, incumbent Democrat Jessica Miranda kept her string of narrow wins alive in Ohio's 28th Ohio House District. What made the Forest Park Democrat's win more impressive was that this year, the Republicans in the legislature redrew her district to make it more friendly to GOP candidates.

Read the full story

Elsewhere in Hamilton County, Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas retained her seat on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

Summerow Dumas withstood a challenge from former Cincinnati council member Christopher Smitherman, who was running as an Independent, and likely split the conservative vote with the Republican candidate, Matt O'Neill, who finished in second place.

Summerow Dumas said the county's stadium deal with the Cincinnati Bengals will be a key focal point of her next term.

"I'm elated that I'll be part of that conversation again," she said. "I'm going to really scrutinize that agreement this time and make sure we get a better shake in 2026."

Read the full story

The venture capitalist and Hillbilly Elegy author has won one of the most closely watched Senate races, not just in Ohio, but in the nation.

Every Republican statewide executive officeholder in Ohio won his bid for re-election in a full sweep of the executive offices; governor, attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, and treasurer.

The Democratic candidates made the pitch that decisions made by state leaders are giving Ohio a bad reputation on issues like abortion and corruption.

However, that message appeared to fail to gain traction with voters statewide.

Read the full story >>

The latest on various school board levies from across the Tri-State from reporter Zack Carreon:

See the latest results for Kentucky and Ohio.

You can also see how the balance of power is shaping up in the U.S. House and Senate here.

See the complete race breakdown here.

Reporter Ann Thompson is with Steve Chabot at the Hamilton County GOP's HQ:

Local Government Reporter Becca Costello is with Greg Landsman (or his party at least) Downtown:

Nick Swartsell is with Stephanie Summerow Dumas at a "low key election night party":

And Tana Weingartner is at Jim & Jacks with Christopher Smitherman:

Follow them for more updates.

WVXU relies on the Associated Press for race results. Here is an explainer on how AP calls races:

"The AP does not make projections and will only declare a winner when it’s determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap — even if one candidate has claimed victory and others have conceded ... noting that declarations of victory can be premature and concessions can be withdrawn."

Read more on how it all works:

If there are any election night traditions at WVXU — and newsrooms in general — it is the pizza. Delicious in the moment, but guaranteed to give you heartburn when you go for that third slice at 11 p.m.

Either that, or you get the jitters from too many sugary cookies:

AP has called the race for Paul:

Polls close for Kentucky and Indiana residents at 6 p.m. local time, but Ohioans have until 7:30 p.m.! Remember, if you are in line by the time polls close, you are able to vote.

A few of our staffers have voted, have you?

Follow along with our reporters as they tweet out news and updates from candidate watch parties:

Jo Ingles ➡️ Tim Ryan: @joingles

Andy Chow ➡️ J.D. Vance: @andy_chow

Becca Costello ➡️ Greg Landsman: @becca_costello

Ann Thompson ➡️ Steve Chabot: @annthompsonwvxu

Nick Swartsell ➡️ Stephanie Summerow Dumas: @nswartsell

Tana Weingartner ➡️ Christopher Smitherman: @tanaweingartner

Local Government Reporter Becca Costello explains that while the process is laid out in the city charter. it doesn't always go smoothly.

Ohio is on the list.

AP

Read it at NPR ➡️

Kevin Reynolds

/

WVXU

We're hearing area polling places are seeing steady traffic, and in some cases even lines — something highly usual for a midterm election where a presidential contest isn't on the ballot.

"I’m in a line of about a dozen folks to get into my polling place at Fort Wright Civic Club," a staffer emailed us, along with the above photo. "Inside about 40 in line. Much more crowded than the 2020 presidential."

What did you experience at your polling place?

Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District is sprawling, stretching from northern Kentucky and parts of northeastern Kentucky south to Oldham, Shelby and Spencer counties near Louisville.

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has represented the district since 2012. But biotech executive Matt Lehman, who lives in Newport, is looking to change that. He's campaigning to become the first Democrat to represent the district since 2004.

Cincinnati Edition host Lucy May has this conversation about the race. ➡️

AP

/

Courtesy of the candidate

Quite possibly the best photo/headline combo ever. 😍🦮

Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose's warning came amid a misinformation campaign late last month around the security of voting machines that’s urging voters to do just that.

Read his response ➡️

To say this is a high stakes election doesn't do it justice.

I've been covering elections since 1974 and I'd be hard-pressed to name one — especially a mid-term election — where there was more on the line.

Control of Congress. Control of the nation's agenda, possibly for many years to come. Possibly even the future of our representative democracy itself.

Keep reading ➡

It's true that our society and many others around the world are facing what some researchers call "truth decay."

In the past decade or so, the way people consume information has radically changed thanks to social media. And you, the user, have some influence over the algorithms that serve you posts, videos and news stories in your feed.

With that in mind, here are several things to consider when sharing news of all kinds, but especially election news.

WVXU Local Government Reporter Becca Costello put together this helpful thread for Tri-State voters:

The 2022 midterm election season is in full swing! Early voting ends today, while undecided voters and die-hard Election Day-ballot-casters are looking ahead to Tuesday, Nov. 8.

No matter which way you vote, here’s everything you should know before grabbing your ID and heading out the door.

Jump to:
Ohio
Kentucky
Indiana