Congressmen Dave Joyce and Michael Rulli, the two Republicans who represent the Mahoning Valley in the U.S. House, easily won their Republican primaries.

As for Democrats, Maria Jukic, a former Euclid City Council member, won the three-person primary for the 14th District and Elizabeth Kirtley of New Philadelphia is the winner in the crowded six-person 6th District, according to unofficial results. Both were somewhat surprising outcomes — with Kirtley stunned when told by a reporter that she won the primary.

Joyce, of Bainbridge, who is seeking his eighth term in Congress, soundly beat Niki Frenchko of Warren, a former Trumbull County commissioner, 70% to 30% in the GOP primary Tuesday in the 14th Congressional District, according to unofficial results.

Joyce won 70% of the vote in Trumbull, Frenchko’s home county, according to unofficial results.

In the 14th District’s Democratic primary, Jukic had 51% of the vote with Bill O’Neill of Chagrin Falls, a former Ohio Supreme Court justice who was the unsuccessful Democrat candidate in this congressional district in 2008 and 2010, receiving 36% of the vote to 13% for Carl Setzer of Moreland Hills, a first-time political candidate, according to unofficial results.

Jukic, of Euclid, received 50.84% of the vote in Trumbull and 51.36% of the vote in Mahoning County and won all five counties in the district, like Joyce did.

Frenchko ran an unconventional campaign, garnering attention with a website that tried to capitalize on the reaction she received to nude photos — she is covered up in them — that she posted on Facebook before she filed for the congressional seat.

But it failed to register with voters in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

To fend off Frenchko, Joyce was forced to spend more than $715,000 from his campaign fund between Jan. 1 and April 15, with more than $500,000 of it going towards commercials that touted his endorsement from President Donald Trump for reelection.

Joyce said: “In Congress, I’ve been fighting to make life more affordable for hardworking Ohio families and to foster greater prosperity in our northeast Ohio communities. Building on a longstanding dedication to delivering results, I’m proud to have helped deliver a historic tax cut, lower electricity costs, greater safety, continued progress against the opioid epidemic, and investments in the jobs, people and unique assets that make northeast Ohio strong.”

Joyce added: “I’m humbly asking the voters of the 14th District for their continued confidence and their vote so we can continue building on this track record of results, unlock the full potential of our northeast Ohio economy and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking families. I look forward to running a comprehensive and determined campaign for reelection and visiting with voters across our great district to listen to their concerns and earn their vote.”

Jukic didn’t respond Tuesday night to repeated requests to comment.

6TH DISTRICT

In the 6th Congressional District’s Republican primary, Rulli, of Salem, who’s served in the House since June 2024, easily defeated Jullie Kelley of Monroe 79% to 21%, according to unofficial and incomplete results.

Rulli said: “I’m very, very pleased with the results. People are still believing in the movement. We still have a lot of work to do. We’ve got to work on the economy by lowering the gas prices and concentrating on affordability issues. The economy is the No. 1 goal for me. We’ll continue to work for the people and continue to earn their support.”

Rulli’s other priorities include safety at the southern border, American energy independence and rail safety.

During his nearly two years in Congress, the House has passed two of Rulli’s bills. Those bills are pending in the Senate.

Kirtley was told by a reporter that she was the victor, which took her by surprise.

“I am in awe and shock,” said Kirtley, a freelance writer.

After a request to gather her thoughts, Kirtley instead said, “We’re ready for November. We’re fighting for workers’ rights. We’re fighting for women’s rights. We’re fighting for everything.”

There were six Democrats in the 6th District’s Democratic primary.

With most of the district reporting, Kirtley had 31% of the vote to 22% for Adrian Vitus of Poland and 21% for Sean Connolly of Canfield.

With congressional redistricting taking effect with this election, the 6th District will include most of Mahoning and Stark counties as well as all of Columbiana, Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison and Tuscarawas counties and portions of Wayne and Holmes counties.

The district favors Republicans 63.9% to 36.1% for Democrats based on partisan statewide voting results during the past decade.

With redistricting, the 14th Congressional District continues to include all of Trumbull, Lake, Ashtabula and Geauga counties. It is adding a small part of Mahoning County and making a minor change to what part of Portage County it includes.

The district favors Republicans 58.5% to 41.5% for Democrats based on partisan statewide voting results between 2016 to 2024.

Rulli and particularly Joyce have huge financial advantages over their Democratic challengers.