Ohio’s 15th Congressional District GOP primary might have ended in a landslide for incumbent Rep. Steve Stivers Tuesday, but the Democratic face off was a lot less decisive.
In the midst of a jubilant Pigskin crowd, Athens City Law Director Pat Lang received word of his 13-point victory over Democratic foe Scott Wharton while Stivers celebrated his 80-point spread over Charles Chope.
Lang won 16,111 votes (56.79 percent) throughout the district to defeat Wharton, who received 12,260 votes (or 43.21 percent), according to data from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office at press time.
Stivers garnered 68,514 votes while his Republican challenger Chope only saw 8,157 votes — 89.36 percent and 10.64 percent, respectively, as of press time.
After receiving almost 80 percent of the votes in Athens County, Lang said he is incredibly grateful for city residents’ support.
“I am very humbled and grateful to have such strong support here,” Lang said. “We’ll need that same kind of support in November.”
In Athens County, Lang received 4,821 votes (79.79 percent) to Wharton’s 1,221 (20.21 percent), according to the Athens County Board of Elections.
Stivers won 1,816 votes (83.92 percent) to Chope’s 348 votes (16.08 percent) in Athens County, according to the Board of Elections.
Falling just short of winning the primary, Wharton said he “congratulates Pat Lang and wishes him the best of luck.”
Stivers’ landslide victory means he will compete against Lang in the upcoming November elections.
“I’m going to stay focused on the issues people care about,” Lang said. “I am going to contrast my platform from Stivers’. I think my message will resonate and I will be victorious.”
Stivers and Chope could not be reached for comment.
As a congressman, Lang feels he will be able to effect more change in the nation than he could as Athens’ law director.
“My opposition has voted to change Medicare as we know it, to turn it into a voucher system,” Lang said. “That will not happen if I have anything to say about it. I want to help support small businesses and increase job growth.”
After serving as a member of Athens City Council since his undergraduate years at Ohio University, Lang has gained support from current council members including Jeff Risner, D-2nd Ward.
“I’m very happy — elated, really,” Risner said. “I’m not that surprised. He ran a good, tight campaign. This goes to show how hard work and enthusiastic voters pay off.”
Lang, an Ohio University graduate, also had support from the Democrats of his alma mater, especially Nick Tuell, president of the Ohio University College Democrats.
“We are all excited since he is Athens’ law director, a former Bobcat and a former member of the Ohio University College Democrats,” Tuell said. “It’s no shock to me he did so well in Athens.”
The official results of Tuesday’s primary election will be posted March 23 after absentee ballots are counted, according to the Athens County Board of Elections.
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