2026 Primary Election Night Updates: Results & Key Races as They Happen
10:00 PM — Tuscarawas County — Election Night Update (81 of 81 Election Day Precincts Reporting)
Tuscarawas County has released its full unofficial Election Night results for the May 5, 2026 primary, with all 81 Election Day precincts now reporting. These totals include Election Day ballots, early in‑person votes, and absentee ballots received by the deadline. Results remain unofficial until certified by the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections.
Ohio House District 51 — Democratic Primary
Early totals show Amanda Fontana holding a substantial lead with 3,205 votes, ahead of Angie Hall, who has 1,170. The race will remain unofficial until the county certifies results.
Tuscarawas County Auditor — Republican Primary
In the GOP contest for county auditor, Lisa Contini leads with 4,171 votes, while Brett Hillyer has 3,474 in the unofficial count.
Local Issues
Issue 1 — New Philadelphia City Schools Income Tax (New Buildings)
The proposed income tax for new school construction is currently failing:
- For: 2,087
- Against: 3,303
Issue 2 — Dover Public Library Tax Levy Renewal
The renewal levy is passing in the unofficial tally:
- For: 1,894
- Against: 670
Issue 6 — Village of Newcomerstown Income Tax Proposal
Voters in Newcomerstown are favoring the proposed income tax:
- For: 217
- Against: 147
Issue 7 — Village of Tuscarawas Additional Tax Levy
The additional levy is narrowly trailing:
- For: 76
- Against: 88
These results are unofficial and will be reviewed and certified in the coming days.
8:52 PM —Brown wins Ohio Senate Democratic primary, Ramaswamy wins GOP nomination for governor
(AP) – The primary election in Ohio has set up what is expected to be one of the most expensive races for U.S. Senate this year as Republicans try to hold on to the chamber, while biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy will face a challenge from the state’s former health director as he seeks to keep the governor’s office in GOP hands. In what promises to be one of November’s most high-profile races, former Sen. Sherrod Brown easily defeated a challenger Tuesday in the Ohio Democratic primary and will now attempt to unseat Republican Sen. Jon Husted. There were also elections being held in Indiana and Michigan.
8:30 PM —Tuscarawas County — Election Night Update (Early Voting Results)
Ohio House District 51 — Democratic Primary
- Amanda Fontana: 989
- Angie Hall: 343
Tuscarawas County Auditor — Republican Primary
- Lisa Contini: 839
- Brett Hillyer: 569
Issue 1 — New Philadelphia City Schools Income Tax (New Buildings)
- For: 698
- Against: 977
Issue 2 — Dover Public Library Tax Levy Renewal
- For: 436
- Against: 150
Issue 6 — Village of Newcomerstown Income Tax Proposal
- For: 22
- Against: 20
Issue 7 — Village of Tuscarawas Tax Levy
- For: 7
- Against: 17
7:47 PM — Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy wins Ohio’s GOP nomination for governor and will face former state health director
WASHINGTON (AP) — Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy wins Ohio’s GOP nomination for governor and will face former state health director.
7:46 PM —Former Sen. Sherrod Brown wins Ohio Democratic primary for US Senate, setting up race seen as crucial for national party
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Sen. Sherrod Brown wins Ohio Democratic primary for US Senate, setting up race seen as crucial for national party.
12:00 PM — TUSCARAWAS COUNTY VOTERS HEAD TO THE POLLS
NEW PHILADELPHIA – Polling places are open today for Ohio’s primary election until 7:30 p.m. Tuscarawas County Board of Elections Director David Johnson reminds voters to bring a valid photo ID and to be patient with poll workers, who staff elections only a couple times each year. Sample ballots and polling locations are available online. Mail-in ballots must be received by the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m. and may also be dropped off at the elections office on East High Avenue in New Philadelphia. Ballots received after polls close will not be counted under a new state law.
ISSUE 1 WOULD FUND NEW PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL BUILDINGS
New Philadelphia School District voters are weighing Issue 1, a 1.5% income tax to help build new schools. The tax would pay for about half of a $170 million project on 77 acres along State Route 39; Superintendent Amy Wentworth says approval would also unlock state funding to cover the rest. After three failed property tax levies, district leaders shifted to an income tax, and Wentworth says a “no” vote could jeopardize the purchase of the former Leggett Farm site.
TUSCARAWAS COUNTY AUDITOR REPUBLICAN PRIMARY
Two candidates are competing in the Republican primary for Tuscarawas County auditor to replace retiring longtime auditor Larry Lindberg. Lisa Contini, the county’s chief deputy auditor, brings 17 years of municipal auditing experience and has served as fiscal officer for the county child support agency. She says her training and professional network have prepared her to step into the role. Brett Hillyer, an attorney and former state representative, cites his background in real estate law and technology and is calling for greater transparency, arguing that county financial records should be more accessible online.
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR OHIO HOUSE, 51ST DISTRICT
Democrats will pick a nominee today to challenge Republican incumbent Jodi Salvo in Ohio’s 51st House District, with Amanda Fontana and Angie Hall competing in the primary. Fontana, a New Philadelphia school board member, emphasizes affordability issues such as property taxes, healthcare, and education, while Hall, a Brewster resident, points to concerns about state budget cuts affecting schools, infrastructure, and public services.
11:17 AM — Vance gets a chance to woo Iowa GOP voters ahead of 2028 in a campaign stop with a congressman
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Vice President JD Vance has stopped in Ohio as he makes his way to Iowa for the first time since taking office. The former U.S. senator from Ohio is seen as one of the GOP’s strongest potential 2028 presidential candidates. Vance is traveling to Iowa on Tuesday to campaign for Republican congressman Zach Nunn, who faces a competitive race to keep his Des Moines-area seat in November. Vance gets to test his reception before voters in Iowa, where the leadoff caucuses give them an outsized role in determining the next presidential nominee. Before Iowa, Vance stopped in Cincinnati to vote in Ohio’s primary elections and travels to Oklahoma City for a Republican Party fundraiser.
10:59 AM —Ramaswamy looks to put primary behind him and turn to expensive fall campaign for Ohio governor
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy aims to put a long and sometimes unpleasant primary season behind him Tuesday. The Cincinnati-born biotech entrepreneur has largely ignored a long-shot challenge by engineer and car designer Casey Putsch as he positions to face Democrat Amy Acton, the former state health director, this fall. Tuesday’s results also will set the stage for a high-stakes Senate contest for what remains of the term Vice President JD Vance won in 2022. Republican Jon Husted was appointed to the seat and is vying to hold on to it. Democratic former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is seeking a comeback after losing a 2024 reelection bid.
12:12 AM —Trump’s retribution? What to watch in Tuesday’s elections in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan
(AP) – President Donald Trump’s campaign to politically punish Republicans who stand in his way moves through Indiana on Tuesday night, when seven state senators face Trump-backed primary challengers. In neighboring Ohio, primaries for U.S. Senate and governor will lock in the candidates for two major races with national implications. And in Michigan, voters in a bellwether district will fill a vacancy in the state Senate, a race with implications for the balance of power in a battleground state.