Post-Election Wrap Up with GSG

Government Strategies Group hosted a virtual meeting for clients on November 7 to share key thoughts and takeaways about the 2024 election, and where we landed here in Ohio.

Government Strategies Group hosted a virtual meeting for clients on November 7 to share key thoughts and takeaways about the 2024 election and where we landed here in Ohio.

As a board member of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, GSG’s Chip Gerhardt shared that election day went very smoothly and most uneventful. There was a significant increase in early voting in Hamilton County this election cycle and about a five percent drop (from 2020) in voter turnout on election day.

At the top of the ticket, Donald Trump/JD Vance won Ohio by an 11.35 percent margin. Senator Vance’s status as Vice-President elect will leave an open Senate seat here in Ohio, and his replacement will be appointed by Governor Mike DeWine. The Governor has not established a timeline for announcing the appointment. He will likely consider candidates who are not only hard workers committed to representing Ohio but also someone who can hold onto the seat in a 2026 special election to serve the balance of Senator Vance’s term (which ends in 2028), and then be ready to run for re-election.

In a race that was watched across the nation, Bernie Moreno defeated incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown with over 50 percent of the vote shifting the balance of power in the U.S. Senate to Republicans.

Incumbent Democrat Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-1) won his first bid for re-election with 54 percent of the vote versus Republican candidate Orlando Sonza. Landsman received more Democrat votes in Hamilton County than all votes cast in Warren County. At this time, there aren’t any expected changes to the Ohio Congressional delegation, although incumbent Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s (OH-9) race versus challenger State Representative Derrik Merrin is still too close to call.

At the state level, the Republicans increased their majority in the Ohio Supreme Court where voters elected Republicans in all three races creating a significant shift from 4-3 to 6-1.

There are some slight changes in the Ohio General Assembly. Republicans maintained a majority. Democrats picking up 2 seats in each Chamber. We will see four new faces in our delegation here in SW Ohio, including Karen Brownlee (D-28), Mike Odioso (R-30), Diane Mullins (R-47), and Michelle Teska (R-55).

The Ohio House Republican Caucus may take an informal, private vote for Speaker, potentially next week. GSG will keep you posted as the battle for Speaker unfolds in the coming weeks.

Issue 1 failed by 7.56 percent which means that the process for drawing Congressional and State Assembly districts will not change in Ohio.

Closer to home, the polls told a different story where Democrats maintained a stronghold. In Hamilton County, the unofficial Presidential race results were 226,763 votes for Vice President Harris and 168,584 for former President Trump. The trend continued down the ticket with a strong coordinated campaign effort among Democrats which resulted in wins for Democrats in most county wide elections, including the County Commission, re-election of two judges, and the election of three new judges. Governor DeWine will appoint a new Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas judge to replace Megan Shanahan who was elected to the Ohio Supreme Court. Finally, in a historic vote, Connie Pillich was the first female and Democrat elected as Prosecuting Attorney in Hamilton County in 92 years.

Additionally, the two Hamilton County tax levies, Developmental Disabilities and Family Services, also passed handily in Hamilton County despite the statewide trend that saw many local property tax levies fail.

Chip Gerhardt wrapped up the conversation by encouraging clients to reach out and engage with GSG as we all navigate the changing landscape of local, state, and federal government in the coming weeks and months.

About GSG

Government Strategies Group is a bipartisan Government Relations, Economic Development, Public Policy & Communications Strategy firm. We are one of the top lobbying firms in Ohio

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Anne C. Sesler

Director of Public Affairs

Anne Sesler brings more than twenty years’ experience in public affairs consulting to Government Strategies Group. Anne works with local elected officials, state legislators, reporters and community leaders on behalf of corporate and non-profit clients developing community outreach and engagement strategies, conducts media relations, builds grassroots support for projects, and conducts communication with stakeholders and legislators.

Anne lends her public policy and political communication experience beyond GSG to her role as Vice Chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party. Over the years, she’s offered political counsel to both state and local campaigns, including Preschool Promise, Ohio Jobs and Growth (the casino ballot initiative), United for Jobs and Ohio’s Future (Third Frontier), and many others. Anne lives in Mt. Lookout with her husband, Bryan.

Focus areas: 

  • Local government relations
  • Coalition building
  • Media relations and communications
  • Crisis communications

Driven by:

  • Making Cincinnati a better place for all

In the community:

  • Leadership Cincinnati Class 47
  • Cincinnati Planning Commission member
  • Lunken Airport Oversight and Advisory Board Chair
  • Cincinnati Democratic Committee Co-Chair
  • Hamilton County Democratic Party, Vice Chair
  • Mt. Lookout Community Council member

Charles “Chip” Gerhardt

President & CEO

Chip Gerhardt has made government affairs, economic development, and issue advocacy his life’s work. He’s worked for decades in the public and private sectors, and advocated at the local, state, and federal levels of government. In 2007, he used that experience to found Government Strategies Group, a full-service government relations firm. At GSG, he works directly with clients, helping them navigate the complicated intersection of politics, public policy, and business.

In his many years in public policy, Chip has been involved in significant policies including; creation of tax increment financing districts, the Clean Ohio program, Cincinnati City Center Development Corporation, and most importantly, the passage of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. He has also been at the forefront of some of the biggest developments in Greater Cincinnati, including the Horseshoe (now Hard Rock) Casino, TQL Stadium for FC Cincinnati, parking garage structures at The Banks, and the redevelopment of the @580 building. Rarely is there a public policy endeavor in Cincinnati that does not involve GSG.

Chip received his B.B.A in Marketing from the University of Notre Dame and his Juris Doctor from the St. Louis University School of Law. He lives in Anderson Township with his wife Jane. Son Charlie is a local chef and children Hank and Anne have completed their education and started lives of their own.

Focus areas:

  • State and local government relations
  • Economic development
  • Issue advocacy

Driven by:

  • A lifelong interest in the political system has driven Chip to a career in public policy and politics. As a parent of three, one with Down syndrome, has compelled him to promote public policies designed to help others. Whether it is enabling financial independence for people with disabilities, advancing funding for housing families facing homelessness, or assisting with economic development projects, Chip involves himself in things that make a positive difference. 

In the community:

  • Hamilton County Board of Elections member
  • Current Board Member for Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, People Working Cooperatively, Corporation for Findlay Market, goVibrant, and the African American Chamber of Commerce
  • Former Chairman of the Board for the National Down Syndrome Society
  • Former board member of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Cincinnati Museum Center, the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce, and the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati
  • Cincinnati Magazine’s 300 of the Region’s Most Powerful Business Leaders, 2021-2022
  • Cincy Magazine Power 100, 2011-2022