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U.S. Reps. Michael Rulli and Dave Joyce, Republicans who represent the Mahoning Valley in Congress, beat their Democratic challengers in successful bids for reelection.
Neither won by overwhelming margins.
Rulli, R-Salem, defeated Democrat Elizabeth Kirtley of New Philadelphia 59% to 41% in the 6th Congressional District race, according to incomplete and unofficial results.
Joyce, R-Bainbridge, beat Democrat Maria Jukic of Euclid 54% to 46% in the 14th Congressional District race, according to incomplete and unofficial results.
Rulli said of the relative closeness of his race: "It definitely was not a red year so we're happy with the win. I'm thrilled with it. It's an honor of a lifetime to serve."
With Rulli about to be in the minority party, he said: "We'll deal with that. We'll sharpen our pencils and get to work. The opposition party should quit with the gerrymandering complaints. It takes away from their victories."
Rulli was first elected to the House seat in a special June 2024 election after Republican Bill Johnson resigned early to become Youngstown State University president. Rulli won the November 2024 election for a full two-year term.
With congressional redistricting taking effect with this election, the 6th District will include most of Mahoning and Stark counties as well as all of Columbiana, Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison and Tuscarawas counties and portions of Wayne and Holmes counties.
The district favors Republicans 63.9% to 36.1% for Democrats based on partisan statewide voting results during the past decade.
In Tuesday's election, Rulli won every county, but Mahoning. He lost Mahoning by about 7.5%.
Joyce's 14th Congressional District includes all of Trumbull, Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga counties. With redistricting taking effect with this election, the district is adding a small part of Mahoning County and making a minor change to what part of Portage County it includes.
The district favors Republicans 58.5% to 41.5% based on partisan statewide voting results between 2016 and 2024, according to the Ohio Redistricting Commission.
Joyce won all six counties in Tuesday's election. But he won Trumbull by only 3.18%.
This will be Joyce's eighth two-year term in the House.