According to the Federal Elections Commission, Foister did not start a campaign finance committee thus spending nothing on his campaign while Davidson spent nearly $120,000, according to his pre- and post-general election reports. More than $1 million was spent either by Davidson's campaign or on his campaign's behalf in the Republican special and general primary elections.
But Foister, a political unknown, managed to receive more votes than Davidson in 29 of the 283 Butler County precincts.
That election was “a perfect opportunity to see what happens when you have every disadvantage against you in this county,” said Brian Hester, Butler County Democratic Party’s communications director.
What they did was knock on doors, mailed post cards and made phone calls on Foister’s behalf, he said. And Hester said what they learned is they have a shot to win elections.
“If we can grow our capacity, if we can get more precincts, if we can get more community members, we can start winning races,” Hester said. “That’s what we know now. If we had better candidates, and if we work our precincts, we can turnout the votes.”
Looking deep into the data is the Democrats’ proof they can win. For every one registered Democrat in Butler County there’s more than five registered Republicans. But the vote ratio in the low voter turnout 8th Congressional District election was 3.6 votes for Davidson for every vote for Foister.
Democrats see that as an opportunity, though they “are clearly working at a disadvantage in the county overall, right now,” said Miami University Hamilton political science professor John Forren. But he said their plan is to compete in the long term.
“Especially in an election year like this, where the parties are being redefined by what is happening at the presidential level, it is certainly the case that Democrats can be hopeful of competing in at least some of the down-ballot races in Butler County,” Forren said.
But the core of the Butler County Republican Party is not taking this for granted, said Don Carpenter, the Butler County GOP’s regional chair in Fairfield and Central Committee first vice chairman.
“We have strong leadership and we have great candidates,” he said. “And we don’t take that for granted.”
Carpenter said many Republicans working behind the scenes aren’t losing their desire to win, “because the moment you take it for granted, you lose it.”
And Butler County GOP Executive Chairman Todd Hall agreed said the party is just as strong now as it was when his grandfather, Carlos Todd, ran the party.
“Our party is more united than ever,” he said.
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