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Election 2012

President Barack Obama has won Ohio again, capturing the swing state after a hard-fought battle with Republican Mitt Romney. Obama, who also won Ohio in 2008, claims the swing state's 18 electoral votes on his way to an electoral victory nationwide.Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles has more.NPR's It's All Politics blog looks at Ohio's roll in the President's win.NPR's It's All Politics blog explores reaction to Obama's re-election from around the world.Democrat Sherrod Brown has won re-election to the U.S. Senate after one of the most expensive and closely watched match-ups in the country. The 59-year-old Brown beat Republican challenger Josh Mandel despite an onslaught of attacks from conservative outside groups.The Dayton Daily News' Martin Gottlieb provides analysis on the Brown-Mandel Race.Analysis from former Dayton Daily News editor Ellen Belcher.NPR's Peter Overby looks Senate races including Brown-Mandel and whether ad money equals victory.In the race for Ohio's new 10th District, Congressman Mike Turner won over challenger Sharon Neuhardt by a wide margin of 60% to 36%. WYSO's Jerry Kenney spoke with Turner about his win.Ohio voters have rejected a proposal to change the process for redrawing state legislative and congressional maps. Issue 2 lost after a fight that pitted voter advocacy groups and unions against business interests and the Ohio Republican Party.Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler has more information.There were nearly 200 school levies on the ballot Tuesday in Ohio. Several districts around the Miami Valley were seeking levy support from voter's to replace state aid ad revenue lost through tax changes. The majority of these levies were rejected.A picture of school levies throughout the state of Ohio from StateImpact's Ida LieszkovskyHowever, Dayton Metro Library saw success on its bond issue.County by county results for the WYSO listening area:Champaign CountyClark CountyClinton CountyDarke CountyGreene CountyMiami CountyMontgomery CountyPreble CountyWarren CountyThe WYSO news team has partnered with the Associated Press to bring you extra features and coverage on the candidates and issues this election season:Exit Poll DemographicsElection Results MapThe Balance of PowerInteractive Campaign OverviewCandidate and Issue TrackerCampaign Finance Tracker

Issue 2 - The Redistricting Amendment - Fails Big

WYSO | By Karen Kasler (Ohio Public Radio)

Published November 7, 2012 at 6:05 AM EST

Both the statewide issues failed. Issue 1 would have convened a constitutional convention, and state lawmakers were hoping it wouldn’t pass so they could continue with an appointed commission which will make recommendations on changes to the constitution. And Issue 2 would have taken the power to draw the maps for state and federal lawmakers out of legislators’ hands and put it with a 12-member citizens’ panel. Opponents of the redistricting amendment – the Ohio Republican Party, along with business and socially conservative groups – raised more than 7 million dollars to fight it. Coalition spokesman Carlo LoParo says everyone agrees that the map drawing process can be improved, and this complicated and convoluted issue didn’t do it.

“The voters took a look at the issue and decided it’s not a better solution than the current plan. If we improve the system, we should at least improve the part of the system that everybody has a concern with,” says LoParo.

Issue 2 was backed by Democrats and union groups. Spokesman Brian Rothenberg says the other side ran a deceptive campaign, but it wasn’t a waste.

“They admitted there is a problem with the system. And the day will come when people will have a voice in their government again,” says Rothenberg.

Rothenberg says now Issue 2’s supporters will pressure lawmakers to have conversations on how to change redistricting now, and not wait till the next maps are drawn.