FREMONT, Ohio — Sandusky County voters backed Republicans in every statewide race on their own ballots even as Democrats won the top offices statewide, according to unofficial results posted by the Sandusky County Board of Elections for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The board reported 22,936 ballots cast out of 38,750 registered voters, for turnout of 59.19%, with all 58 precincts reporting. Every figure here is unofficial until the county certifies its official canvass.
In the governor’s race in Sandusky County, Republicans Vivek Ramaswamy and Robert A. McColley received 11,862 votes, or 52.41%, to 9,518, or 42.06%, for Democrats Amy Acton and David Pepper, with Libertarians Don Kissick and James L. Mills at 1,191, according to the board. Acton won statewide. For U.S. senator, Republican Jon Husted led in the county with 11,982 votes, or 52.98%, to 9,034, or 39.95%, for Democrat Sherrod Brown, according to the board. Brown won statewide.
The Republican lead held through the rest of the statewide ballot in the county, according to the board: attorney general, Keith Faber 13,531 votes to John J. Kulewicz 8,818; auditor, Frank LaRose 13,662 to Annette Blackwell 8,740; secretary of state, Robert Sprague 12,649 to Allison Russo 8,871; treasurer, Jay Edwards 13,250 to Seth Walsh 8,849; and Supreme Court, Daniel R. Hawkins 13,197 to Marilyn Zayas 9,009 and Colleen O’Donnell 13,098 to Jennifer Brunner 9,086.
Sandusky County approved State Issue 3, the photo ID constitutional amendment, by 16,697 votes, or 74.03%, to 5,858, or 25.97%, according to the board, and Issue 3 also passed statewide. For Congress in the 5th District, Republican Bob Latta received 13,357 votes in the county to 8,428 for Democrat Brian A. Shaver, and for state representative, Republican Gary Click received 12,879 votes in the county to 9,345 for Democrat Aaron W. Jones, according to the board.
Locally, Republicans won both commissioner races, according to the board: Richard J. Farmer II received 13,017 votes, or 58.73%, to 9,146 for Kurtis A. Kuhl, and Justin C. Smith received 12,477 votes, or 56.15%, to 9,745 for Jill A. Simpson. For Common Pleas judge, Kimberly Ontko received 13,729 votes, or 68.97%, to 6,177 for Jon M. Ickes. The closest result was the Criminal Justice Services levy renewal, which passed by just 84 votes — 11,196 votes, or 50.19%, for and 11,112, or 49.81%, against — while the Park District levy renewal passed 13,248 to 9,169, according to the board.
What we know — and what we’re still waiting on
What we know: the board has posted complete unofficial results with all 58 precincts reporting, and the county-level leaders above are clear in every race except the 84-vote levy. What we’re still waiting on: the cure period, the counting of eligible provisional and military and overseas ballots in the official canvass, and certification — steps that could matter in a race decided by 84 votes.
Under Ohio Secretary of State Directive 2026-48, the board must stay open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, so voters can cure an absentee or provisional deficiency, including showing photo ID, by Nov. 7. The board must begin the official canvass no earlier than Sunday, Nov. 8 and no later than Wednesday, Nov. 18, and must certify no later than Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026, according to the directive. NewsForce247 will update this story when Sandusky County files its certified results.