Since voters determined which Democrats and Republicans would run for a range of local, state and national offices this week in the May 2 primary, campus political groups are looking forward to the fall general election.

“As a progressive Democrat, it would be hard not to be ecstatic about the candidates chosen in the primary,” said College junior and co-chair of the Oberlin College Democrats Charlie Sohne.

Jonathan Bruno, College junior and president of the Oberlin College Republicans, spoke enthusiastically about several candidates but predicted that they might face tough competition in the general elections.

“Right now the Republicans represent the status quo,” said Bruno. “And lots of people aren’t happy with the status quo.”

Democrats overwhelmingly chose Sherrod Brown to run for U.S. Senate over his opponent Merrill Keiser. Brown has served as U.S. Congressman for Ohio’s 13th district for 12 years.

“[Brown] used to be Oberlin’s Congressman and he has consistently stood up for the things that Oberlin students care about: labor, peace and the environment,” said Sohne. “He’s got a great shot and would be among the most progressive members of the U.S. Senate.”

Republican candidate and current Ohio Senator Mike DeWine was selected overwhelmingly over his two opponents as well. Bruno spoke in strong support of DeWine, saying his win was predictable.

“He is a guy who is not in the far right,” said Bruno. “[In this election], you must be your own breed to do well, and DeWine is that guy. He’s broken with the party on several things.”

In the Governor’s race, current Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell narrowly won the Republican ticket.

“That race was the only one that I thought was going to be close,” said Bruno. “Blackwell probably has a better chance [than his primary election opponent Jim Petro] of competing with [Democratic candidate and U.S. Congressman Ted] Strickland.”

Democrats selected Strickland in a large margin over his opponent Bryan Flannery.

Sohne spoke with particular enthusiasm about Sue Morano, who will be running on the Democratic ticket for state senate.

“[Morano] is a progressive hero,” he said.

In the last election, Morano, a long-time member of the Service Employees International Union and a registered nurse, lost narrowly to current incumbent Republican candidate Jefferey Armbruster.

“The seat is now open and Sue, without really being part of the political machine, is poised to take back the seat from the Republicans,” said Sohne. “It’s incredible to have someone who really, first hand, understands the concerns of working people — healthcare and education — be so incredibly electable, to the point where Republicans are really freaking out about her campaign.”

College fifth-year and Vice President of the OC Republicans Barry Garrett ran unopposed in the primary for the Republican State Representative candidacy for District 56. Garrett declined to comment on his candidacy.

In Lorain County, Issue 17 passed. The issue constitutes the renewal of a county tax levy that helps fund the Murray Ridge Center, a non-profit organization that provides life-long support to citizens with developmental disabilities. In Oberlin, the three city tax levies on the ballot, funding police and fire services and public security initiatives, also passed.

Sohne predicted that two issues not on the primary ballot would be important in the November elections.

The first is an amendment to the state constitution that would raise Ohio’s state minimum wage from $4.25 to $6.86 an hour. The amendment would be indexed to adjust that number to correspond with inflation.

The second is also a state constitutional amendment: A Tax Expenditure Limit. TEL would, as the name suggests, limit Ohio’s annual spending growth. Sohne said that the bill would impede Ohio’s ability to raise money for social services.

“Basically, it’s an attempt to move spending decisions outside of the realm of democracy and write right-wing values into the state constitution,” he said. “From just talking about a higher minimum wage and defending an attack on our social services, I can already see that there are a lot of activists who might not want to vote for a candidate from a particular party — but are more than willing to support these basic human rights.”

While the OC Republicans do not have an official position on the TEL issue, Bruno said that he saw the measure as an attempt to prevent endless governmental expansion.

“Democrats have not stated opposition to taxation for more and more government programs,” said Bruno. “I think the limit...is the response of Ohio Republicans who want to keep taxation and spending within reason. I personally don’t think there’s anything wrong per se about trying to limit the government of this state from getting bigger and bigger and bigger.”

It is debates like these that make November’s election so significant.

“The results of this fall’s election will have long-lasting effects in both this state and the nation,” said Sohne. “For those of us involved with the [Democratic] Party, for the first time in a while, the Democrats have a great chance of taking the Governorship, a Senate seat, a state Senate seat and, of course, keeping our Congressional seat.”

Both College Democrats and Republicans say they plan to be involved with the fall general election.

Bruno said that the OC Republicans would like to work with the OC Dems in organizing a debate between local candidates and in voter registration.

“We really want to work on getting out the vote,” he said. “It’s important that people participate.”

The OC Democrats have already run voter-registration efforts preceding the primary elections and have hosted a primary awareness party. They plan to continue awareness efforts in the fall.

For complete election results, visit the Ohio Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.oh.us.