HAMILTON — Republican Thomas Hall has a 37-point Election Night lead over Democrat Michelle Novak for the 53rd Ohio House District seat, according to unofficial election results.
Hall has 68.6 percent of the early votes while Novak has 31.4 percent with all precincts reporting. There are still late-arriving mail-in ballots and provisional ballots to be counted when the county elections board certifies the election on Nov. 18.
Novak, a Middletown School Board member, and Hall, a Madison Twp. trustee, were seeking to succeed Rep. Candice Keller, R-Middletown, who lost her bid for the Ohio Senate during the spring primary election. The district represents the western and northern parts of Butler County, including Oxford and most of Middletown.
Novak and Hall don’t agree on most policy issues, but said those elected to the Statehouse will determine Ohio’s direction.
Novak was trying to earn a seat in Columbus, and become the first Butler County Democrat since 1970 to be elected to a General Assembly seat.
Middletown’s David Armbruster won election in 1970 to the then-39th House District. He only served one term.