Greetings!

Today we are looking over the first lap of a race that has a few more cycles to run this year.

Democrats and Republicans placed their respective bets on who they wanted to see on the November ballot for statewide executive office, for Congress, and for some local contests. Here in Cuyahoga County those local references meant primarily setting the field for County Executive, county council seats, and judicial races.

We wonder how many of you had the stamina required to pencil in all those ovals besides those judges whose names seem simultaneously familiar, similar and indistinct. We might give you a pass just because you showed up to vote on a day when two or three races seemed vital and most of the rest were uncontested.

Preliminary results indicate that fewer than one in five of voted either early, absentee, or in person yesterday. If you are among the 20%, wear your fresh I VOTED badge with honor. 

Here are accounts we published today on the indicated races:

 

Of course, there is other news besides politics. Today is Health Wednesday and that newsletter will be forthcoming.

Let us close by noting that the Ohio Redistricting Commission, with a new member[1],  convenes this afternoon, with a Friday deadline looming, the possibility of contempt still hovering, and the assurance that a U.S. District Court will impose legislative lines already ruled unconstitutional if state officials — i.e., the General Assembly and the Ohio Supreme Court — do not resolve the present hot mess.

Then we can move on to the next lap, which will be a second primary, likely but not yet definitely August 2, to select state representatives and senators, the current supermajority of whom, when they are not bowing to lobbyists, like to dither around expanding gun rights, restricting, distorting and/or otherwise destroying public education, and contracting various personal freedoms.

Cheers!

R. T. Andrews

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[1] At the start of today’s ORC meeting, House Speaker Cupp announced that State Rep. Jeff LaRe is replacing him on the commission. Senate President Huffman had earlier announced his own replacement.