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2018 was a big election year in Ohio. Republicans held onto all five statewide executive offices including governor and super majorities in both the Ohio House and Senate. But there were a few bright spots for Democrats, among them the reelection of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and the election of two Democrats to the Ohio Supreme Court.With election 2018 over, the focus now shifts to governing. Stay connected with the latest on politics, policies and people making the decisions at all levels affecting your lives.

Ohio Lawmaker Pushes the Popular Vote for Picking Presidents

photo of David Leland
THE OHIO CHANNEL

Now that the election is over, lawmakers will be coming back to work at the Statehouse for the lame duck session. But the presidential race is likely to come up in what they discuss. 

Republican Donald Trump may have won Ohio by 454,000 votes, but Hillary Clinton is leading in the popular vote by more than 2 million ballots. Rep. David Leland of Columbus, who’s the former head of the Ohio Democratic Party, says that shouldn’t happen.

“I’ll be sponsoring legislation in the General Assembly to promote the National Popular Vote Compact, so that the people in the United States, the majority of the people who vote for a presidential candidate are the ones that get listened to.”

That compact has passed in 10 states and the District of Columbia, which all lean Democratic and have a total of 165 electoral votes – it would take effect if states with a total of 270 votes approve it, and if Congress approves it.