Honestly, if you looked at the stack of paper that made up the hamilton county ballot 2024, you probably felt a slight sense of dread. It wasn't just a vote; it was a marathon. Between the presidential noise and those local tax levies that always seem to pop up like weeds, there was a lot to digest. Most people walk into the booth knowing who they want for the big office, but they freeze when they hit the "Judge of the Court of Common Pleas" or those technical amendments about redistricting.
It matters. Like, really matters.
In Hamilton County, Ohio, the 2024 election wasn't just a repeat of national talking points. It was a massive shift in local power dynamics. We saw a "blue wave" at the county level that turned long-held Republican seats into Democratic strongholds, especially in the courthouse. If you've lived in Cincinnati or the surrounding townships for a while, you know the prosecutor's office has been a GOP fortress for decades. That changed.
The Big Shakeup: Who Actually Won?
Let's cut to the chase on the results. The most shocking moment for many local political junkies was the race for Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney. Melissa Powers, the Republican incumbent, lost to Connie Pillich. This is huge. Pillich is the first woman ever elected to this role in Hamilton County. It’s a position that holds incredible weight over how justice is handled in our streets, and seeing it flip after so much history is a massive deal.
Then you had the County Commissioners. Alicia Reece and Denise Driehaus both held onto their seats. They defeated Jonathan Pearson and Adam Koehler, keeping the commission firmly in Democratic hands.
It wasn't a clean sweep across the board for everyone, though.
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The Hamilton County Auditor special election was another high-stakes battle. Jessica Miranda (D) took down Tom Brinkman Jr. (R) with about 55% of the vote. If you’re keeping score, that’s another win for the Dems in a role that basically acts as the county’s chief fiscal officer.
- Sheriff: Charmaine McGuffey (D) secured her reelection.
- Clerk of Courts: Pavan Parikh (D) beat out Mary Hill.
- Coroner: Lakshmi Kode Sammarco (D) ran essentially unopposed.
Why Issue 1 Failed (and Why it Was Confusing)
If there was one thing on the hamilton county ballot 2024 that made people scratch their heads, it was statewide Issue 1. This was the "Citizens Not Politicians" amendment. The goal was to take the power to draw voting districts away from elected officials and give it to a 15-member citizen commission.
The messaging was a mess.
If you read the ballot language—which was written by the Ohio Ballot Board—it actually said a "yes" vote would require gerrymandering. Supporters of the amendment were furious, claiming the language was "deadly and deceptive." In the end, it failed statewide with about 54% of voters saying no. In Hamilton County, the numbers looked a bit different, but the confusing wording definitely played a role in the outcome. People generally hate gerrymandering, but when the ballot says a "yes" vote creates it, you've got a recipe for disaster.
The Local Levies: Where Your Taxes Go
You can't talk about a Hamilton County election without talking about money. Specifically, property taxes. There were two big ones this time around that basically everyone had an opinion on.
The Family Services and Treatment Levy (Issue 34)
This was a $7 tax per $100,000 of property value. It passed. It’s designed to fund things like children's services and addiction treatment. These are the kinds of "social safety net" programs that Hamilton County leans on heavily.
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The Mental Health Levy
Voters also approved funds for the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) District. This isn't just bureaucracy; it pays for the actual facilities and programs that handle the mental health crisis in our community.
The Judicial Sweep
This is where the real "inside baseball" of the hamilton county ballot 2024 happened. For a long time, the Hamilton County courthouse was very conservative. Not anymore.
Democratic candidates essentially swept the contested races in the 1st District.
- Terry Nestor defeated Sean Donovan for Common Pleas.
- Marilyn Zayas and Candace Crouse held their spots on the Court of Appeals.
- Rich Moore took down incumbent Robert Goering.
Why does this matter to you? Judges decide everything from your neighbor's property dispute to how criminal sentencing is handled. The shift toward a more liberal bench is going to have ripples in local law for the next decade.
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What Most People Got Wrong
A common misconception was that Hamilton County would follow the statewide trend. Ohio as a whole went comfortably for Donald Trump (about 55% to 44%). But Hamilton County stayed a deep shade of blue.
While the state is trending Republican, the urban and suburban core of Cincinnati is doing the opposite. We saw high turnout—around 67%—which is solid, though slightly lower than some expected for a presidential year.
Actionable Next Steps for Voters
Now that the dust has settled on the 2024 cycle, don't just wait another four years to check in. Local governance happens every Tuesday at the Commissioner meetings.
- Check your property tax bill: Since the Family Services and Mental Health levies passed, you’ll see those reflected in your upcoming assessments. Use the County Auditor’s website to see exactly how much you're paying.
- Follow the new Prosecutor: Connie Pillich is stepping into a role that hasn't seen a new party in charge for a lifetime. Watch how her office handles low-level offenses vs. violent crime; it’s the most direct way to see your vote in action.
- Keep an eye on 2025: Local municipal races (City Council, School Boards) happen in "off-years." These often have the biggest impact on your daily life—like how your trash is picked up or what your kids learn in school—and they usually have the lowest turnout. Mark your calendar for the November 2025 local elections now.