Lead narrows further in Blackshear-McGuire race for Ohio Senate open seat

Charlotte McGuire (left) and Willis Blackshear Jr. (right) are running for Ohio's 6th District State Senate seat in November 2024

Charlotte McGuire (left) and Willis Blackshear Jr. (right) are running for Ohio's 6th District State Senate seat in November 2024

The race for a Dayton area open Ohio state senate seat continues to tighten, according to an update on the secretary of state’s website.

State Rep. Willis Blackshear, Jr., who earlier held a double-digit lead, is now ahead Ohio board of education member Charlotte McGuire with 52.35% to 47.65% for a seat to represent Dayton and most of its surrounding suburbs, an update posted about 9:45 p.m. showed.

Initial vote totals had Blackshear leading by more than 15%.

The winner will replace Sen. Niraj Antani to represent Senate District 6. Antani, R-Miami Twp., opted not to run for reelection after the boundaries were redrawn last year giving Democrats a stronger competitive advantage.

Aside from nearly all of Dayton and the entirety of Trotwood, the district includes Kettering, Oakwood, Riverside, Carlisle, Centerville, Moraine, Springboro, West Carrollton and mutliple townships.

Ohio senators are elected to four-year terms and receive an annual salary of $63,007 a year, plus more if they get into their caucus’ leadership.

Republican Kyle Koehler had a huge lead over Democrat Dan McGregor in the Ohio Senate District 10 race Tuesday night, with more than 110,000 votes counted, according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.

Lifelong Springfielder and former state Rep. Koehler had 63.74% of the votes, compared with 36.26% for Democratic newcomer McGregor, of Beavercreek as of 9:25 p.m.

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