Trump-backed Republican clings to narrow lead in U.S. House race in Ohio
Narrow margin will be little comfort for Republicans anxious about prospect of Democratic wave in November
A hotly contested race in Ohio for a U.S. House of Representatives seat that has gone Republican for more than 30 years remained too close to call on Wednesday, in an encouraging sign for Democrats heading into the Nov. 6 elections.
Republican Troy Balderson led Democrat Danny O'Connor by about 1,700 votes with all precincts reporting, although the Ohio Secretary of State's office said a final result would be delayed until more than 8,000 provisional and absentee ballots were counted.
Even if Balderson is eventually declared the winner, the narrow margin is little comfort for Republicans as they anxiously head into the November elections. It is certain to hearten Democrats, who performed dramatically better than
expected.
The close Ohio special election has become a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump's leadership and a last chance to gauge Democratic strength ahead of November's midterm elections, in which the Republicans are defending majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Republicans outspent Democrats 4 to 1
The central Ohio race was the marquee contest on a day when four other states held nominating contests, including a battle for governor in Michigan in which a mainstream candidate beat a progressive, and a high-profile conservative challenge to the incumbent Republican governor in Kansas.
The Ohio contest drew an avalanche of national attention in recent weeks as polls showed it tightening, with Republicans and their allies outspending Democratic groups by more than 4 to 1 and running ads linking O'Connor to liberal House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.
O'Connor, a local county official, tried to project a moderate image, saying he would support new Democratic leadership in Congress and work with Republicans but also criticizing the Trump tax cut.
Trump took credit for the apparent Republican victory, saying on Twitter that Balderson's campaign made "a big turn for the better" after he campaigned for him in the district on Saturday night.
Other Republicans, including Vice-President Mike Pence and Ohio Gov. John Kasich had also rushed to Balderson's aid.
Trump won the district by 11 percentage points in the White House race in 2016 and Republican Pat Tiberi won re-election to the House by a whopping 37 percentage points. However, Tiberi resigned before finishing his term, forcing the special election to replace him.
Recount possible
Balderson and O'Connor, who did not concede on Tuesday, will face off again in November to serve a full two-year term.
"We always knew that the fight would continue," O'Connor told CNN on Wednesday, declining to say whether he would seek a recount if one was not automatically triggered.
The Ohio secretary of state's office said it could not yet declare a winner. Under state law, absentee and provisional ballots cannot be counted for 11 days with an automatic recount if the margin of results is within 0.5 per cent.
Democrats need to win 23 more seats in the House and two in the Senate to control Congress and put the brakes on Trump's agenda. All 435 House seats, 35 of 100 Senate seats and 36 of 50 governors' offices are up for grabs in November.
Democrats need 23 House seats
The Ohio district includes many of the suburban women and college-educated, affluent residents that polls show have been the sort of voters turned off by Trump's chaotic first 19 months in office.
Democrats need to pick up 23 seats in the House and two seats in the Senate to win majorities in those chambers and put the brakes on Trump's agenda.
All 435 House seats, 35 of 100 Senate seats and 36 of 50 governors' offices are up for grabs in November.
Michigan, Missouri, Kansas and Washington held primaries on Tuesday, setting the stage for a number of competitive congressional and governor's races in November.
Moderate defeats progressive in Michigan
The Democratic race for governor in Michigan tested the electoral power of the party's progressive wing. But former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed lost his bid to become the country's first Muslim governor to a more moderate Democrat, former state Senate leader Gretchen Whitmer.
Whitmer will face Republican Bill Schuette, who was endorsed by Trump, in November.
In Kansas, staunch Trump ally and conservative firebrand Kris Kobach held a lead of less than 200 votes over current Gov. Jeff Colyer, in a primary race that could take days or weeks before a final result is determined.
Kobach, Kansas' secretary of state who was endorsed by Trump in the waning days of the primary race, and Colyer each had about 41 per cent of the vote on Wednesday.
Kobach was an immigration adviser to Trump's campaign in 2016 and vice-chairman of Trump's commission to investigate voting fraud before the panel collapsed.