Updated 10:55 p.m..
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — Republican Steven Will Mault won a full term on the Scioto County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Abby Spears 62.9% to 36.6% with all 77 of the county’s precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Scioto County Board of Elections. Write-in candidate Thomas Hamilton received 0.4% of the vote.
In the county’s other commissioner contest, for an unexpired term beginning Jan. 1, Republican Merit Smith defeated write-in candidate Kathryn Cochran 94.2% to 5.8%.
Republican Christopher Blackburn won the race for Scioto County auditor, defeating Democrat Tricia M. Eichenlaub 64.0% to 36.0%.
Three Scioto County judicial seats were uncontested. Mark E. Kuhn won the Court of Common Pleas seat for the term beginning Jan. 1, 2027, with 100% of the vote. Howard H. Harcha III won the Common Pleas seat for the term beginning Feb. 10, 2027, also with 100%, and Rebecca L. Bennett won the Probate and Juvenile Division seat for the term beginning Feb. 10, 2027, with 100%.
Voters in the city of Portsmouth approved a current operations tax levy, 62.1% to 37.9%. In New Boston, voters approved a flood defense levy, 67.8% to 32.2%.
In Otway, voters approved a current expenses levy, 69.7% to 30.3%, and a fire levy, 68.8% to 31.2%. South Webster voters approved a current expenses levy, 66.7% to 33.3%.
Rarden village voters rejected a measure to surrender the village’s corporate powers, with 96.1% voting no, meaning Rarden remains an incorporated village.
Clay Township voters approved a police levy, 59.9% to 40.1%. Nile Township voters approved a cemetery levy, 55.0% to 45.0%, and a police levy, 54.4% to 45.6%.
Porter Township voters approved a roads levy, 67.2% to 32.8%. Washington Township voters approved a police levy, 54.2% to 45.8%.
In the Twin/Wheelersburg precinct, voters approved a local option allowing alcohol sales, 71.3% to 28.7%, and a measure allowing Sunday sales, 66.9% to 33.1%.
In the top-of-the-ticket races, Scioto County voters favored Republicans by wide margins that did not match tighter statewide trends. For governor, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy carried the county with 61.2% (13,163 votes) to Democrat Amy Acton’s 36.0% (7,741 votes) and Libertarian Don Kissick’s 2.8% (603 votes), according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State. Statewide, Acton was leading with 50.4%, with 7,298 of 8,834 precincts reporting, and the Scioto Valley Guardian has not projected a winner in that race.
In the U.S. Senate race for the unexpired term, Republican Jon Husted carried Scioto County with 60.2% (12,944 votes) over Democrat Sherrod Brown’s 34.7% (7,464 votes), Libertarian William Redpath’s 2.8% (603 votes) and independent Greg Levy’s 2.3% (487 votes). Statewide, Brown was leading with 48.1%, with 7,298 of 8,834 precincts reporting, and no winner has been projected.
Republicans also carried Scioto County in every other statewide race on the ballot. Keith Faber led for attorney general, 65.4% to Democrat John Kulewicz’s 34.6%. Frank LaRose led for state auditor, 65.8% to Democrat Annette Blackwell’s 34.2%.
Robert Sprague led for secretary of state with 63.1%, ahead of Democrat Allison Russo’s 34.5% and Libertarian Tom Pruss’s 2.4%. Jay Edwards led for state treasurer, 65.1% to Democrat Seth Walsh’s 34.9%.
In the two Ohio Supreme Court races, Republican Daniel Hawkins led with 65.2% over Democrat Marilyn Zayas’s 34.8%, and Republican Colleen O’Donnell led with 64.6% over Democrat Jennifer Brunner’s 35.4%. None of those races, or the governor and Senate contests, had been projected statewide as of the county’s report.
In the 2nd Congressional District, Republican David Taylor carried Scioto County with 65.9% to Democrat Jen Mazzuckelli’s 34.1%. The Scioto Valley Guardian projects Taylor as the winner district-wide, with 726 of 738 precincts reporting.
In the Ohio House District 90 race, Republican Justin Pizzulli carried the county with 67.2% over Democrat Collin Docterman’s 32.8%. The Guardian projects Pizzulli the winner district-wide, with 126 of 131 precincts reporting.
For the 4th District Court of Appeals seat, Republican Jayme Fountain carried the county with 64.6% over Democrat Todd Grace’s 35.4%. The Guardian projects Fountain the winner district-wide, with 534 of 568 precincts reporting.
Scioto County voters strongly backed State Issue 3, the proposed requirement that voters show photo identification, 74.7% to 25.3%. The Scioto Valley Guardian projects the measure will pass statewide, with 7,298 of 8,834 precincts reporting.
A total of 21,782 ballots were cast in Scioto County out of 42,745 registered voters, a turnout of 51.0%, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State. The Secretary of State’s office reported 15 outstanding absentee ballots and 458 outstanding provisional ballots still to be counted.
Full county-by-county results are available on the Scioto Valley Guardian’s live election results map at https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/election-results-2026/.
Results are unofficial until certified by the Ohio Secretary of State. Source: Ohio Secretary of State election night reporting. See the live map: https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/election-results-2026/
