There were a number of interesting filings in Mahoning and Trumbull counties for the March 19, 2024, primary as well as some noted races in which a political party opted not to field a candidate.

An open congressional seat usually attracts a lot of candidates. But, only three Republicans and two Democrats filed for the position that U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson will relinquish to become Youngstown State University president.

Johnson, a Republican who just relocated from Marietta to Canfield, will resign by early March.

The 6th Congressional District favors Republicans by 18% based on voting trends in partisan statewide elections during the past decade, so Democrats didn’t recruit candidates for the seat. There is little chance either Democratic candidate will be competitive in the 2024 general election.

Republicans are state Sen. Michael Rulli of Salem, state Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus of Paris Township and Rick Tsai of East Palestine, a chiropractor.

Rulli is favored, and his strength in Mahoning and Columbiana, the most-populous and the third-most-populous counties in the district, likely made several formidable candidates think twice. Stoltzfus comes from Stark County, the district’s second-most-populous county, and could pose a serious challenge.

In Mahoning County, Republicans didn’t file challengers to Commissioner Anthony Traficanti, Engineer Patrick T. Ginnetti, Coroner David Kennedy and Anthony Donofrio, common pleas court judge.

With Sheriff Jerry Greene switching parties from Democrat to Republican, Democrats didn’t field an opponent.

State Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, got a challenge for the 59th Ohio House District seat in the general election from Republican Jennifer J. Ciccone, who just lost the Struthers Municipal Court race by 10.28% and alienated party leadership with her complaints about the outcome.

After a number of election cycles losing Ohio Supreme Court and courts of appeals races, statewide Republicans changed the rules starting in 2022 to require political party affiliations for candidates for seats on general election ballots.

It’s been a remarkably successful strategy as longtime incumbent Democrats on the 7th District Court of Appeals, based in Youngstown, and on the 11th District Court of Appeals, based in Warren, lost in 2022, and Democratic incumbents in both chose to not seek reelection in 2024.

Democrats also didn’t file for an open 7th District seat or the three available positions in the 11th District on the 2024 ballot.

While Democratic judicial candidates with party affiliation can be competitive in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, they cannot in the rest of the counties in the two appeals districts.

In Trumbull, there are four Democrats who will battle for county commissioner seat currently held by Republican Niki Frenchko. Frenchko will face Hubbard Township Trustee Rick Hernandez in her party’s primary.

The Trumbull Democratic Party is scheduled to endorse in its three contested races, including that commissioner’s race, on Jan. 16, said Chairman Mark Alberini.

While Trumbull Republicans don’t endorse in primaries, Frenchko has been on the outs with the party establishment and was censured Oct. 25 by the party’s officers, banning her and her campaign literature from its headquarters.

Frenchko, who has criticized the party’s officers, said she isn’t concerned about the censure.

Republicans will have choices in the 32nd Ohio Senate District and the 65th Ohio House District as there are two candidates for each.

State Rep. Mike Loychik, R-Bazetta, chose not to seek reelection in the 65th and will challenge incumbent state Sen. Sandra O’Brien, R-Lenox, in the 32nd. O’Brien is expected to get the support and financial backing of the state Republican establishment.

With Loychik’s decision, the 65th race pits Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas against Laurie Magyar, a registered nurse from Williamsfield. Redistricting added much of Ashtabula County to the district, and the only two candidates are from there.

Alberini said Democrats tried to find a candidate, but with the district heavily favoring Republicans, no one stepped forward.

Trumbull Republicans didn’t file candidates against Prosecutor Dennis Watkins, Coroner Lawrence D’Amico, and Common Pleas Judges Ronald Rice, general division, and Samuel F. Bluedorn, family court division.

While Jim Melfi lost the Democratic primary last year for Girard mayor, a position he’s held for 24 years, he will be the party’s nominee for county treasurer after incumbent Democrat Sam Lamancusa chose to not seek reelection.

Also, we’ve got another rematch between Engineer Randy Smith and David DeChristofaro, former engineer. Instead of them facing each other in the Democratic primary as they did four years ago, DeChristofaro filed as a Republican.