High turnout and big money in Ohio election

Earlier this year, the Republican-controlled Ohio legislature, along with Republican governor John Kasich passed Senate Bill 5, which rolled back many collective bargaining rights for Ohio state workers, similar to the measure passed in Wisconsin under Governor Scott Walker. Some groups opposed to the law collected signatures to put it up for referendum. Last night Ohio voted on the issue, and rejected Senate Bill 5, which will not go into effect.

Unions poured large amounts of money into the cause, which Catherine Turcer of Network partner Ohio Citizen Action predicted to be over $50 million. In a WBAY report out of Wisconsin, Turcer was also quoted, saying, “We are at a crossroads of a ton of money from both sides.” Politico also noted that Citizens United, the organization that challenged campaign spending in the Supreme Court, spent big money to get voters to say “yes” on Issue 2.

Columbus Dispatch: Unions get revenge as Issue 2 fails
The Daily Beast: Labor’s War Chest
WBAY: Ohio voters get their say on collective-bargaining law
Politico: Citizens United spends big in Ohio

More than 46 percent of registered Ohio voters turned out on Tuesday, more than any off-year election (non-Presidential or mid-term) since 1991. The number almost matches 2010’s mid-term election turnout.
WYTV: Ohio off-year election turnout highest in 20 years