CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Democrats Amy Acton and Sherrod Brown sent a blue shockwave across Ohio on Tuesday night, with the Scioto Valley Guardian projecting Acton as the state’s next governor and Brown the winner of Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat, even as the seven counties of the Scioto Valley voted overwhelmingly the other way and rejected a string of local tax issues.
Acton led Republican Vivek Ramaswamy 50.9% to 45.7%, 2,147,182 votes to 1,927,826, with 7,927 of Ohio’s 8,834 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State. Libertarian Don Kissick had 3.4%. Brown led Republican Jon Husted 48.6% to 46.5%, 2,054,121 to 1,962,029, in the race for the unexpired Senate term ending in January 2029. The Guardian’s projections are its own, based on precincts reporting and the margins; results remain unofficial until certified.
The Democratic night reached into the Scioto Valley’s own congressional map: Democratic newcomer Don Leonard upset U.S. Rep. Mike Carey in Ohio’s 15th District, which includes Fayette, Highland and Pickaway counties, on the strength of Franklin County. Read the Guardian’s 15th District story at https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2026/11/03/fayette-county-gets-a-democrat-in-congress-don-leonard-upsets-rep-mike-carey-in-ohios-15th-district/.
Nationally, the Guardian projects Democrats will take control of both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. Every federal race in the country is on the Guardian’s national results page at https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/national-election-results-2026/.
None of that blue reached the local ballot. Ramaswamy carried all seven Scioto Valley counties by 19 to 45 points, and Husted carried all seven by 21 to 45 points: Ross 57.6% and 58.4%; Pickaway 61.7% and 62.9%; Fayette 66.1% and 67.0%; Highland 70.4% and 69.5%; Pike 63.4% and 62.7%; Vinton 65.9% and 64.7%; and Scioto 61.2% and 60.2% for Ramaswamy and Husted respectively.
Voters here were just as tough on tax issues. In Chillicothe, both the city school district’s proposed income tax (4,178 against to 3,244 for) and the city’s proposed municipal income tax (4,258 to 3,191) failed. Washington Court House City Schools’ income tax renewal failed by 44 votes in Fayette County, 1,936 to 1,892. The Pickaway County Park District’s renewal and increase failed, 11,868 to 10,065. Pike County’s additional levy for developmental disabilities failed, 5,126 to 3,078, and the Waverly City School District income tax was rejected in Pike County 2,607 to 1,176. Ashville voters turned down a village referendum 1,469 to 331, and additional levies failed narrowly in Deercreek and Perry townships in Pickaway County, as did a cemetery renewal in Pike County’s Pebble Township, 383 to 375.
Several essential-service levies did pass: the Fayette County EMS renewal (5,571 to 2,493), the Tri-County Joint Fire District’s additional levy, the Sterling Joint Ambulance District renewal, Vinton County’s health district renewal and police, fire and parks renewals in McArthur and Hamden, and fire-protection renewals in Pike County’s Mifflin, Perry, Seal and Sunfish townships. The Miami Trace Local School District renewal, which spans four counties, was ahead by roughly 10 votes with all precincts counted and could go either way in the official canvass. Highland County’s East Clinton school income tax failed in its Highland precincts, 278 to 131.
Here is where each county stands. Every county story is being updated through the night as the county boards of elections post their final counts, and the live, county-by-county map is at https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/election-results-2026/.
County by county
Ross County: Chillicothe schools income tax fails 56.3%-43.7% in Ross County
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — A proposed income tax for the Chillicothe City School District was failing Tuesday night, 56.3% against to 43.7% in favor, according to unofficial results from the Ross County Board of Elections. All 24 precincts in the district reported, with 4,178 votes against and 3,244 for. Read the full Ross County story →
Pickaway County: Pickaway County park levy fails, 54.1% to 45.9%, in unofficial count
CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio — Pickaway County voters were rejecting a renewal and increase of the county park district’s tax levy Tuesday, according to results posted by the Pickaway County Board of Elections. With all 46 of the county’s precincts reporting, the levy was failing 54.1% to 45.9%, 11,868 votes against to 10,065 in favor. Read the full Pickaway County story →
Fayette County: Fayette County renews Miami Trace school levy by 61 votes
WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Fayette County voters narrowly approved a renewal levy for Miami Trace Local School District, with 2,532 votes, or 50.6%, in favor and 2,471, or 49.4%, against, as all 18 precincts in the district reported, according to unofficial results from the Fayette County Board of Elections. Read the full Fayette County story →
Highland County: Roades defeats Zody for Highland County commissioner, 77.7%-22.3%
HILLSBORO, Ohio — Republican Brad Roades won election as Highland County commissioner Tuesday, defeating Democrat Howard Zody 77.7% (8,193 votes) to 22.3% (2,357 votes), according to unofficial results from the Highland County Board of Elections, with all 31 of the county’s precincts counted. Read the full Highland County story →
Pike County: Leist defeats Thompson for Pike County commissioner seat, 67.3%-32.7%
WAVERLY, Ohio — Neil Edward Leist defeated Bob Thompson for a Pike County commissioner seat Tuesday, winning 67.3% of the vote, 5,708 votes, to Thompson’s 32.7%, 2,773 votes, with all 22 of 22 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Pike County Board of Elections. Read the full Pike County story →
Vinton County: Ward tops Hammond 68.7%-31.3% for Vinton County commissioner
McARTHUR, Ohio — Republican C. Scott Ward won election to the Vinton County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Steven Ray Hammond 68.7% to 31.3%, according to unofficial results from the Vinton County Board of Elections. All 20 of the county’s 20 precincts had reported for the full term beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Read the full Vinton County story →
Scioto County: Mault wins Scioto County commissioner race over Spears, 62.9%-36.6%
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. Read the full Scioto County story →
The governor’s race story is at https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/2026/11/03/acton-wins-ohio-governors-race-50-6-to-46-0-over-ramaswamy/.
Results are unofficial until certified by the Ohio Secretary of State and the county boards of elections. Sources: Ohio Secretary of State election night reporting; county boards of elections unofficial results reports.
