Though victory has not yet been officially declared, Republican congressional candidate Troy Balderson appears to have beaten out his challenger, Democrat Danny O’Connor, in Ohio’s 12th district by an astonishingly narrow 1,700 votes.
With roughly 3,000 absentee ballots still to count, Balderson has a 0.9 percent lead to replace GOP representative Pat Tiberi in a district that Republicans have held for three decades.
Despite the expected victory, the tight margin will likely emerge as a cause for concern among Republicans as Balderson has barely managed to hang on in a district that President Trump won by a solid eleven points in 2016.
While the race has not been called yet by a major news outlet, Balderson claimed victory in an early Tuesday morning tweet.
“THANK YOU #OH12! I am honored for the opportunity to represent Ohio’s 12th Congressional District. I will work relentlessly for everyone in this district. Congratulations to Danny O’Connor on running a hard-fought race,” Balderson said in the statement.
O’Connor, meanwhile, has not conceded, telling supporters “we’re in a tie ball game” late Tuesday night.
Trump, who stumped for Balderson in Ohio last week, suggested his visit and support were instrumental in the likely victory in a Tuesday night tweet.
When I decided to go to Ohio for Troy Balderson, he was down in early voting 64 to 36. That was not good. After my speech on Saturday night, there was a big turn for the better. Now Troy wins a great victory during a very tough time of the year for voting. He will win BIG in Nov.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
Elsewhere in the country, Trump’s endorsements paid off as senate candidate Iraq veteran John James bested Sandy Pensler in Michigan Republican primary and Trump ally Chris Kobach holds a lead in the Kansas Republican gubernatorial primary, though final results have not been declared.
Trump celebrated James’s victory in a late-night tweet, calling him a “star of the Republican party.”
Congratulations to a future STAR of the Republican Party, future Senator John James. A big and bold victory tonight in the Great State of Michigan – the first of many. November can’t come fast enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
James, a successful Detroit businessman, will take on entrenched Democratic incumbent senator Debbie Stabenow in November.