Farm bureau secures wins in Ohio races

By Andi Anderson

Ohio Farm Bureau members recently achieved a 98% success rate in supporting pro-agriculture candidates in state and national elections. This significant success highlights the organization’s grassroots approach to identifying candidates who support agriculture.

Out of 106 identified seats, 104 were won by Friends of Agriculture, with support extended to candidates in the Ohio Supreme Court, state Senate, House, and the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

One of the major election outcomes included the rejection of Issue 1, a redistricting amendment that the Farm Bureau opposed due to conflicting priorities with its own redistricting policy.

This rejection aligns with the Farm Bureau’s efforts to preserve policies focusing on community unity and local representation.

At the Ohio Supreme Court, three pro-agriculture candidates, Joe Deters, Megan Shanahan, and Dan Hawkins, won their races, giving Republicans a 6-1 majority on the court.

In the Ohio State Senate, 15 out of 16 endorsed Friends of Agriculture candidates won, with Republicans now holding 24 seats. Similarly, in the Ohio State House, 77 out of 78 endorsed candidates secured victories, with Republicans maintaining the majority.

In the U.S. Senate race, Ohio voters elected Bernie Moreno over incumbent Sherrod Brown, ending Brown’s three terms in the Senate. With this Republican win, the U.S. Senate gains a majority.

Following the election of Senator JD Vance as vice-president-elect, Ohio’s governor will appoint a temporary replacement for Vance’s seat until a special election in 2026.

For Ohio’s U.S. House races, all incumbents retained their seats, with Dave Taylor stepping in for retiring Rep. Brad Wenstrup. This election cycle, marked by redistricting, saw closely contested races, yet incumbent representatives prevailed.

Looking forward, the Ohio Farm Bureau remains committed to policy advocacy at both state and federal levels. With annual meetings approaching, members will discuss and vote on new policy suggestions.

These policies will guide the Farm Bureau’s future engagement with Ohio’s General Assembly and ensure continued support for Ohio’s agriculture community.

Photo Credit: ohio-farm-bureau