COLUMBUS -- After all votes were finally counted late Tuesday, Democrat Debbie Phillips won a state House seat, extending a what is the first House Democratic majority in 14 years.
Phillips, an Athens City Councilor, won the 92nd District by just 514 over Athens County Auditor Jill Thompson, a Republican.
"Today the remaining votes were counted and the results show we came up short," Thompson said in a statement.
The win means Democrats will control at least 52 of the 99 House seats, a pick up of six seats. Last week, Armond Budish, of Beachwood, was elected House Speaker. Final results in the 19th Ohio House District race are pending.
Phillips actually declared victory on election night even though she led by just 150 votes with 1,500 provisional, early voting and absentee ballots left to be counted. Thompson initially said Phillips was "premature" in declaring herself the winner.
The Boards of Elections in Athens, Meigs, Morgan and Washington Counties finished counting all ballots yesterday. Phillips won 50.47 percent of the total vote - outside the window that would trigger an automatic recount.
"The voters of the 92nd District have spoken - they want strong representation at the Statehouse and a strong voice for their concerns," Phillips said. "I am humbled and honored that they are entrusting me to represent them in the Ohio House, and I promise to stand up for their best interests and work with our Governor and my colleagues to craft bipartisan solutions to the issues all Ohioans face."
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