Ohio GOP loses top races to Democrats

Ohio Republican leaders conceded their top statewide races to Democrats on Tuesday night, marking a sharp reversal from the party's recent dominance in the state. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was the first to step down, addressing a small crowd at the Renaissance hotel in downtown Columbus shortly after 11 p.m.

Ramaswamy told the group that the contest had been bitter in both directions. He noted that he had called Democratic governor-elect Amy Acton to congratulate her, though he reached her voicemail. He urged the room to root for the success of the state and the incoming administration.

"We are rooting for the success of this state, we're rooting for your success, and that means that all of us in this room should be rooting for the success of her administration," Ramaswamy said. He ended his remarks by expressing concern about the country's direction while maintaining that Ohio's best days were still ahead.

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted conceded the Senate race to Democratic senator-elect Sherrod Brown just after Ramaswamy finished. The Associated Press had already called the race for Brown. Husted choked up during his concession speech, telling supporters that Americans should love their nation and fight for its founding ideals.

"You should love it and you should fight for it, and the founding ideals, that our rights fundamentally belong to us, not to government .. always fight for those values," Husted said. He wished Brown well, adding that candidates should win with humility and lose with grace.

As of 4 a.m. Wednesday, most statewide executive races remained too close to call, though results trended toward the Democrats. The Ohio Republican Party faces likely losses of at least two seats in the state Senate and as many as 12 in the state House. These shifts would reduce the GOP's majorities in both chambers to much slimmer margins.