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WARREN COUNTY, OH -- The Primary Election is a little over a month away — Tuesday May 5th. In this election, voters are being asked to vote on:
Local Issues, such as:
School Districts
- Franklin City Schools is asking for a 1% Income Tax for 10 Years
- Xenia City Schools is asking for a Renewal of 1.3 Mills for 5 Years
Roads
- Franklin Township is asking for it Roads an Additional 1 Mill for a Continuing Period of Time
- Harveysburg Village is asking for its Roads an Additional 3 Mills for 5 Years
Fire
- Franklin Township Fire District is asking for an Additional 1 Mill for a Continuing Period of Time
- Massine Township Fire is asking for a Renewal of 1 Mill for 5 Years
- Salem Township Fire is asking for an Additional 3.9 Mills for 5 Years
- Wayne Township Fire is asking for a Renewal of 2.45 Mills for 5 Years
City Issues
- City of Franklin has 6 City Charter Amendments
Precinct Issues
- Washington Township Precinct 229
Also, Voters Are Being Asked to Vote on Candidates
In a primary election, voters are asked to vote on the candidate they hope to see on the ballot for their party in the General Election held in November.
And, when it comes to political parties, Warren County has long been one of the most Republican counties in Ohio. Since the parties founding in 1856, Warren County has supported the Republican candidate for president all but once. In 1964, according to Warren County' political history found on Wikipedia, Warren County voted for Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson over Barry M. Goldwater.
Since the 1990 election, the local county offices have been Republican, with Republicans typically running unopposed. Wikipedia also noted that in elections between 1996 and 2012, in which eight county offices were on the ballot, no Democrat even filed.
It's been a while since a local position, such as County Commissioner, County Auditor or County Engineer, has had any other candidate from an other party, other than Republican, run for one of these positions noted Brian Sleeth, Director of Elections at Warren County Board of Election.
Brian Sleeth, Director of Elections at Warren County Board of ElectionSleeth, who has been with the Warren County Board of Elections since 2007 and director since 2012 (except for one year, when he was deputy director), looked back and found that during his time on the board, there was only one Democrat who ran for a county seat.
"Back in 2016, Charles Sanders ran," he said, adding that Sanders had been elected Mayor of Waynesville for two terms prior to his run for commissioner.
The county has had Republicans run against each other in the primaries for a local county position, such is occurring again in this year's Primary Election for county commissioner. Incumbent Tom Grossman is being challenged by fellow republican Mark Messer.
The difference, this time, is that after the May 5th election, the Republican, who wins the Primary Election for County Commissioner, is going to be challenged by both Democrat candidate, Ian Logan, and Libertarian candidate Katherine Bowles.
After looking through several records, Sleeth said he believes that this is the first time Warren County has had a Libertarian run for any of the local county positions.
Sleeth added that Warren County is changing politically..."Especially in the Mason area. I had to order as many Democrat ballots as I did Republican ballots." Will Warren County stay as Ohio's Republican county?
The votes will tell.
Political races that will have the three different parties represented in the 2026 General Election
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