Former Ohio House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty defeated former Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy in the 3rd district Democratic primary on Tuesday, denying the one-term Congresswoman’s comeback bid.
Beatty bested Kilroy, who lost re-election in the GOP wave of 2010, 38 percent to 35 percent, according to the Associated Press.
When Ohio Republicans redrew the Congressional map late last year, they crafted the new 3rd district to collect all the Democratic voters in the Columbus area. The result is a strong Democratic performing seat, and the party’s nominee will in all likelihood be the next Member of Congress.
Beatty served in the state House for nearly nine years until 2008, and Ohio insiders said she maintained a strong political organization in Columbus since then. She used that support to overcome Kilroy’s name identification advantage.
If Beatty wins the general election, as expected, her victory will mark the first time in history that Ohio will have two black Members of Congress.
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