Troy Balderson

With about a month remaining before this year's election, talks of "blue waves" have been circulating national political coverage. Here in Ohio, most of the focus has been on the race for governor between Democrat Rich Cordray and Republican Mike DeWine. But many other state races will determine the makeup of the Ohio House and Senate, which is heavily Republican right now.

The Republican leader of the Ohio Senate says he’s confident that new central Ohio Congressman Troy Balderson will win in November, even as he’s announcing that Balderson’s replacement in the Senate won’t be picked until after the election.

President Larry Obhof says resumes from those who want to fill Balderson’s Senate seat will be accepted until November 16.

The Ohio Republican Party held the biggest annual fundraising dinner in the organization’s history on Friday – headlined by President Donald Trump. There's been speculation that the Trump factor could help Democrats in this fall’s midterm elections, but guests at the dinner presented a united front.  

More than 8,000 outstanding ballots are giving the Danny O’Connor campaign a tiny glimmer of hope in the race to represent Ohio’s 12th Congressional District.  But the chances of the Democrat winning is looking like a bit of long shot.

Republican Troy Balderson holds a narrow lead in the congressional race, besting O’Connor by less than 2,000 votes. There are enough remaining ballots to flip the final result.

Central Ohio voters are casting ballots in a special election for congress that has taken on national significance. The race pits a moderate Democrat against an increasingly rightward leaning Republican.