Voters in southwest Ohio expressed strong concerns over rising costs, including high gas prices and property taxes, as primary voting closed. Local issues overshadowed statewide races for governor and Congress. Healthcare access also emerged as a key worry amid clinic closures.
Primary voting concluded on Tuesday in Ohio, with competitive races for governor, House, and Senate on the ballot. In southwest Ohio, however, voters focused on local matters. At the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati, early voters cited the state's high gas prices—averaging $5 per gallon for regular—as a major burden, according to NPR reporter Isabel Nissley reporting from the scene on Saturday morning. Susan Bailey, a lifelong Republican from Reading, carpooled to vote despite the costs, emphasizing, 'Voting is a privilege, and people should take it very, very seriously.' She opposed a proposed levy that could raise property taxes by over $235 annually, noting her fixed income struggles: 'It's like, jeez, you rob Peter to pay Paul? No. No. No.' Ohio homeowners face some of the nation's highest property tax rates, prompting state lawmakers to propose relief plans. Patricia Molony, a Democrat and women's health provider from Norwood, highlighted healthcare access issues. She said many patients worry about pregnancy care and rural clinic losses, following the closure of two Planned Parenthood sites in southwest Ohio last year due to Republican-led budget cuts. In Clermont County east of Cincinnati, Republican supporter James Riley voiced admiration for President Trump but wished for calmer rhetoric. A veteran, he expressed concern over the ongoing U.S. war with Iran: 'I don't like war at all, so I'm hoping it's over.' Independent voter Aaron Murphy, a Duke Energy contractor, listed cost of living, economy, and gas prices as top issues, opting for the Democratic primary after voting Republican in 2024. He noted no perceived economic improvement since the last election.
