Montgomery County voters backed Democrats in the county’s top offices in unofficial results from the Nov. 3 general election, with all 381 precincts counted, according to the Montgomery County Board of Elections. For county commissioner, Democrat Carolyn Rice led Republican Margie Christie 113,774 votes (57.8 percent) to 82,958 (42.2 percent). For county auditor, Democrat Karl Keith led Republican Tammy L. Murphy 120,485 votes (60.9 percent) to 77,333 (39.1 percent). The board noted absentee and provisional ballots were still outstanding, so no result is final until certification.
In statewide races, Montgomery County’s own vote — county voters only, not the statewide outcome — leaned Democratic, according to the Board of Elections. For governor, Democrats Amy Acton and David Pepper received 116,335 county votes (57.4 percent) to 79,905 (39.4 percent) for Republicans Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley. In the 10th Congressional District, Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker led Republican Mike Turner in the county, 107,818 votes (53.3 percent) to 88,760 (43.9 percent).
County voters also favored Democrat Allison Russo for secretary of state, 111,842 votes, or 55.7 percent, to Republican Robert Sprague’s 82,939 and Libertarian Tom Pruss’s 6,088, according to the Board of Elections; the Associated Press tabulation of Ohio Secretary of State data for the county matched those figures exactly. On statewide Issue 3, the voter photo ID constitutional amendment, county voters said yes, 119,162 votes, or 59.5 percent, to 81,043 no votes — also an exact match.
Several local contests stayed close. In the 37th Ohio House District, Democrat Tom Herner led Republican Tom Young by just 134 votes, 26,227 to 26,093, according to the Board of Elections. In the Common Pleas General Division race for the term beginning Jan. 3, 2027, Kelly D. Madzey led Michele S.H. Henne 82,654 votes (51.3 percent) to 78,555 (48.7 percent). In the Probate Division race, Cassandra A. Rice led David Brannon 87,888 votes (51.9 percent) to 81,400 (48.1 percent).
Dayton-area school questions split. Dayton City Schools’ additional 7-mill continuing levy was trailing across its 106 precincts, with 19,542 votes against (50.8 percent) to 18,949 for (49.2 percent) — a margin of 593 votes with ballots still outstanding, according to the Board of Elections. Miamisburg’s 0.5 percent school income tax was also trailing, 10,676 against (66.6 percent) to 5,343 for. Oakwood’s 1.8-mill renewal was passing, 3,308 for (65.9 percent) to 1,715 against.
What we’re still waiting on: the precinct count is complete at 381 of 381, but absentee and provisional ballots remain outstanding, with no count of them or official turnout total yet published. The closest races — the 37th House District, the Dayton levy and the probate judgeship — cannot be treated as settled until those ballots are counted.
What happens next follows the Ohio Secretary of State’s schedule. Under Directive 2026-48, boards must begin the official canvass between Nov. 8 and Nov. 18, 2026, and report official certification no later than Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026. Montgomery County’s numbers become official only when its board finishes that canvass and certifies them.
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0