Republican Congressman Steve Chabot has defeated Democrat Kate Schroder in the race for Ohio’s first district seat, according to the Associated Press.
First elected in 1985 to Cincinnati City Council and later to the Hamilton County Commission, the incumbent Chabot has been in Congress for more than 20 years. He lost only one Congressional race to Steve Driehaus in 2008 and won the seat back two years later.
Rep. Chabot speaking outside now. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/YdvitIRD5M
— Courtney Francisco (@CFranciscoWCPO) November 4, 2020
In 2018, Chabot fought off a close race against Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval. Chabot lost his home area of western Hamilton County in that race.
First-time candidate Schroder has spent much of her career with the Cincinnati Board of Health and as the vice president of the Clinton Health Access Initiative. She has also done legislative work with Cincinnati City Council and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh.
Schroder, a fifth-generation Cincinnatian, is a mother of two. She also survived a bout with Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2011. She is married to Cincinnati Assistant City Manager John Juech.
Schroder took to social media early Wednesday night to congratulate Chabot and express gratitude to her supporters.
"Rep Chabot will re-enter Congress as our country takes on unprecedented challenges - a pandemic, a faltering economy, and racial injustices," she wrote. "We need leaders to come together to work on behalf of our community, and I wish Rep. Chabot the best as he navigates these difficult waters. I am, of course, disappointed that our efforts fell short. But despite our disappointment, it is important to remember that this campaign has never been about me -- it has been about our shared values and vision for this community, especially protecting healthcare for everyone."
Ohio’s First Congressional District, made up of Hamilton County and parts of Warren County since 2008, is widely accepted as a prime example of gerrymandering favoring Republicans.
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