Republican Ryan Rivers wins Ohio Senate District 19 seat

MOUNT VERNON — Ryan Rivers has won the race for Ohio’s 19th Senate District, defeating Scott Charland in Tuesday’s election.

Rivers’ victory gives Republicans another term representing the district, which includes Knox, Delaware, Coshocton and Holmes counties.

The win follows a closely watched context between the two candidates. The final unofficial results were:

Overall (156,993 total votes across the four counties)

Rivers 55.37% (86,920)

Charland 44.63% (70,073)

Rivers to focus on taxpayers, transparency

Knox Pages reached out to Rivers, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Rivers, a self-described Conservative, is a central Ohio businessman who has a communications degree from Ohio University. He previously served as an Orange Township trustee in Delaware County and is a past president of the Delaware County Township Association.

“My first priority will be reducing property taxes and providing meaningful relief for Ohio families,” Rivers told Knox Pages in October.

Rivers ran on property tax reductions, careful spending, protection for seniors, increased transparency and giving a voice to taxpayers.

“My priority is simple: reliable energy, lower costs, and protecting Ohio families from paying for the demands of large corporations,” Rivers told Knox Pages.

Charland responds to the loss

Charland ran on strong public education, protecting natural resources, wealth tax and a working class economic policy.

“Win or lose, the mission stays the same: make life easier for the working families of District 19. I’ll either be able to do that from inside the Statehouse walls or figure out how to do it from outside them,” Charland wrote in an email to Knox Pages ahead of Election Day.

Voting statistics by county:

Knox

Rivers 66.87% (14,507)

Charland 33.13% (7,186)

Delaware

Rivers 49.72% (57,150)

Charland 50.28% (57,801)

Coshocton

Rivers (8,166)

Charland (3,439)

Holmes

Rivers 81.16% (7,097)

Charland 18.84% (1,647)