Northeast Ohioans react to 2026 Midterms’ blue wave

A barrage of advertisements replete with misinformation and personal attacks swayed voters, according to interviews with a cross-section of Northeast Ohioans.

The contentious election season in Ohio came to a close on Nov.3 with two major races determining the state’s political future. According to unofficial results announced by the Ohio Board of Elections, Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the governor’s race, receiving 2,404,178 votes, or 52% of the total. Ramaswamy received 2,039,730 votes, or 44%.

In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Sherrod Brown defeated Republican incumbent Jon Husted, receiving 2,301,042 votes, or 50%. Husted received 2,077,748 votes, or 45%.

The results marked a shift in Ohio’s political leadership, with both Democratic candidates winning statewide races. For voters who supported the Republican candidates, the outcomes came after a campaign season marked by debates over data centers, the economy and political advertising replete with misinformation and personal attacks.

Negative advertisements were a turnoff for Jennifer Tomaro, so much so, that the Highland Heights resident didn’t vote.

For Tomaro, who is non-partisan, political advertisements “were not factual in the slightest. They were mean, and I had to skip them as much as possible.”

Nonetheless, Democrats and Republicans have “good ideas from time to time. I just feel the world is changing, and not for good.” Tomaro said, adding that she is concerned about her children’s future.

Kristen Morelli, another Highland Heights resident, echoed similar sentiments. The commercials against Acton “were disgusting,” Morelli said, adding that she voted based on the candidate’s policies, not their parties.

Nadia Ianiro, also a Highland Heights resident, voted for Acton and Brown. She said the negative advertisements didn’t “influence her decision. Every vote matters.”

Erin Mahon, of Sagamore Hills, is another voter unhappy with the campaign tactics, especially by Ramaswamy. “Vivek went way too low. It was not okay to blast that over the television,”  Mahon said, referring to Ramaswamy’s commercial featuring Acton’s estranged mother, who called her daughter “a liar” and “not fit to run Ohio.”

In the senatorial race, Mahon said she “did not vote for him (Sherrod Brown) because I thought he was too old, but I feel he will be part of a bigger wave change with Democrats taking over Congress.”

Mary Kate Trepanier, a Rocky River resident, voted for Republican candidates Ramaswamy and Husted because of her unwavering political affiliation. When asked about the negative campaign advertisements throughout the election, Trepanier said, “I was never a fan and I thought they overplayed and it was annoying.”

Although she supported Ramaswamy, she said Acton’s victory did not surprise her. “No, not really,” she said, noting that she doubted whether Acton would follow through on her campaign promises. “I really don’t think so, and that’s because of my political views.”
Mayfield Heights resident Jodi Otto, who voted for Republican, was not surprised to see the Democrats win. She said that she knew many people were unhappy with the state of our country.

Maple Heights resident Mya Olson was also critical of the political ads.

“It’s hard to miss them, it felt like you couldn’t do anything without seeing at least one,” Olson said. “It feels like they all just kind of say the same thing as well. It was my first time voting in any election. I was a little intimidated at first because I didn’t know what to really expect, but the whole process was pretty straightforward.”

Olson added that she was surprised by the election’s outcome “because Ohio has been a y red state. It’s definitely hard to say if they (the Democrats) will keep their word just because it seems like most politicians always just say that no matter what.”

Mary Stevenson supported Amy Acton for governor.  The North Ridgeville resident said issues about the police force, fire departments, schools, and libraries mattered to her.

“Those four things are so important to keep your community livable. People want to move here; they need a strong school system; they need a strong police force and fire department, so those are the issues that I always vote for,” Stevenson said.

“I am thrilled with the results,” she said. “It is a direct response to Trump and his policies. America spoke, and definitely it was a historic win!”
Scott Holton, a resident of Westlake, focuses on the economy and taxes when deciding who to support in the U.S. Senate race.

“I understand that we are in some interesting times but I feel as though both Jon and Vivek are more focused on that area and will be over the long term. When taxes go up or prices rise, it hits my family’s budget directly,” Holton said.

Dave Repko, a Solon resident, hopes the new state administration would implement a few changes.

“Well, I’d like to see the death penalty pause continue,” Repko said. “I want there to be more money put into the public school system. I also would like to see no more homelessness in Ohio.”

Repko went on to say that “they (Republicans) shifted 5 to 10% of the responsibility for food to the state in the ‘big, beautiful bill.’ The states aren’t gonna increase taxes, so I would like to see that 5 to 10% go back to the government.”

Bay Village resident Owen Murtaugh has mixed feelings about the results.

Murtaugh said he voted for Ramaswamy and Husted because he preferred their policies.

Although he did not agree with either candidate, he believed Husted was the better option.

Murtaugh said his parents encouraged him to vote for the first time, giving him an opportunity to participate in the political process.

Jadan DeJesus, of Independence, remarked, “I’ve always aligned with liberal values on issues like the economy, immigration, and women’s rights.” 

Commenting on the results, DeJesus said, “I am absolutely satisfied. I wasn’t super positive going into the past few months, but it gives me a lot of hope for Ohio, and it gave me a lot of hope to elect a woman to governor.”

The blue wave excitement extended to Rocky River resident Patrick Laudolff. “I chose to support Sherrod Brown for his message, making sure working people can live a dignified life.”

Experience also proved a significant factor, as “Sherrod Brown also has a legacy for showing up for working people,” Laudolff said.
Looking at the impact on the Senate nationally, “I think there were a lot of wins I wasn’t expecting, especially in Texas, Iowa, and South Carolina.”

Andrew Svatora, a resident of Shaker Heights, wasn’t surprised by the results. “However, people are getting sick of Republicans and MAGA in general. I voted for Brown because he has a history of working with Republicans and it’s important for people to know how to work with the other side.”