COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio's elections chief has certified the results of the raucous, expensive presidential contest and other fall races.
Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) performed the task on Thursday.
After the months of intensive campaigning, Democratic President Barack Obama garnered 2,827,621 votes to Republican nominee Mitt Romney's 2,661,407 - or 50.2% to 47.3% of the vote in the bellwether state. No Republican has ever won the White House without Ohio, and few Democrats have.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, beat Republican challenger Josh Mandel (man-DEHL') by almost 327,000 votes. Independent candidate Scott Rupert garnered 250,000 votes in the heated Senate contest, which was more than the combined total of all five third-party presidential challengers.
Statewide voter turnout was 70.5%.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Tuesday, January 8 2013 3:17 PM EST2013-01-08 20:17:40 GMT
"Today, I am announcing my decision not to seek election as Governor of Ohio in 2014," said Ted Strickland, former Governor of Ohio. "In many ways, this has been a very difficult decision. I look back
Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced Tuesday that he will not run for that office in 2014.
Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a law that gives distressed communities the ability to choose an emergency manager or other remedies to fix their finances.
Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a law that gives distressed communities the ability to choose an emergency manager or other remedies to fix their finances.
Thursday, December 13 2012 6:27 PM EST2012-12-13 23:27:52 GMT
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - State senators on Thursday cast largely symbolic votes supporting a bipartisan plan to change the way Ohio draws political maps. The Senate passed the measure almost unanimously
State senators on Thursday cast largely symbolic votes supporting a bipartisan plan to change the way Ohio draws political maps.
Monday, December 10 2012 4:06 PM EST2012-12-10 21:06:28 GMT
The presidential election is over so now Toledo voters can turn their attention to the mayor's race.Mayor Mike Bell (I) has not announced whether he'll run for re-election but some challengers are close
The presidential election is over so now Toledo voters can turn their attention to the mayor's race.Mayor Mike Bell (I) has not announced whether he'll run for re-election but some challengers are close
President Barack Obama has arrived at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a trip to visit a suburban Detroit auto plant.
President Barack Obama has arrived at a suburban Detroit auto plant for a visit geared to the economy and his administration's tax standoff with congressional Republicans.
Saturday, May 18 2013 10:50 PM EDT2013-05-19 02:50:34 GMT
Three suspects are still on the loose after an-early morning home invasion and murder in Waterville Township and investigators say the death of 34-year-old James Safadi was not a random act of violence.
Investigators say the home invasion death of 34-year-old James Safadi in Waterville was not a random act of violence. They believe the local business owner was targeted.
Saturday, May 18 2013 9:52 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:52:31 GMT
LEXINGTON, Mich. (AP) - Carol Connell remembers well the gift she gave Sara Ylen, a friend seemingly forced to bear too much misery. Ylen, a Michigan mother of two young boys, said she was battling cancer
A Michigan mom who claimed to be battling cancer and a rape survior is being accused of fraud and her community is reeling.
Saturday, May 18 2013 9:11 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:11:00 GMT
DAMASCUS, Va. (AP) - Witnesses in southwestern Virginia say a car has driven into a crowd at a festival parade. Several people appeared to be hurt, but the nature of their injuries wasn't immediately
An elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a Saturday parade in a small Virginia mountain town.
Saturday, May 18 2013 9:01 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:01:59 GMT
A team that played football for years has reunited to pay tribute to their coach who died from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.It was the fifth year for the Dave Calabrese Football Blitz, but
It was the fifth year for the Dave Calabrese Football Blitz, but the first without Calabrese, who died just days ago after a battle with ALS.
Saturday, May 18 2013 7:57 PM EDT2013-05-18 23:57:12 GMT
While the most intense of the severe weather will be in the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley, it is possible that we could see some severe thunderstorms, as early as Monday night, especially west of the Toledo metro area.
While the most intense of the severe weather will be in the Great Plains and Mississippi Valley, it is possible that we could see some severe thunderstorms, as early as Monday night, especially west of the Toledo metro area.
Saturday, May 18 2013 6:24 PM EDT2013-05-18 22:24:10 GMT
A Toledo man is accused of animal cruelty after he hit his pit bull with 2 by 4.Police say Donnie Britton was trying to break up a fight between two dogs by hitting them with a board. Both dogs were injured
A Toledo man is accused of animal cruelty after he hit his pit bull with 2 by 4.
Saturday, May 18 2013 5:54 PM EDT2013-05-18 21:54:20 GMT
Verizon Wireless customers have been experiencing voice and data issues throughout the day on Saturday in Ohio.Customers in the Sandusky, Akron and Canton areas have seen an increased in dropped calls
Verizon Wireless customers have been experiencing voice and data issues throughout the day on Saturday in Ohio.
Saturday, May 18 2013 9:25 PM EDT2013-05-19 01:25:59 GMT
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) - A wanted man with a criminal history dating back nearly 15 years was identified by police Saturday as the masked home invader involved in the death of a Hofstra University student
A wanted man with a criminal history dating back nearly 15 years was identified by police Saturday as the masked home invader involved in the death of a Hofstra University student early Friday morning.
Saturday, May 18 2013 8:52 PM EDT2013-05-19 00:52:10 GMT
DETROIT (AP) - A tiny insect is threatening Michigan's fruit and vegetable crops. The brown marmorated stink bug's presence in Michigan has growers and agriculture experts concerned because there are
A tiny insect is threatening Michigan's fruit and vegetable crops. The brown marmorated stink bug's presence in Michigan has growers and agriculture experts concerned.
Saturday, May 18 2013 8:42 PM EDT2013-05-19 00:42:53 GMT
CLEVELAND (AP) - Some of the Amish sentenced in beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio are upset with federal prison education requirements. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has required some to study
Some of the Amish sentenced in beard-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in Ohio are upset with federal prison education requirements.