Despite drastic redistricting, Democrat Ted Strickland defeated Republican Mike Halleck in the 6th District U. S. Congressional race.

Strickland received 112,109 votes (59.4 percent) of the total votes and won every county including ones he said he did not expect like Columbiana,

Halleck's home county, Noble, and Mahoning counties. Halleck received 76,594 total votes(40.5 percent).

In Lawrence County, Strickland tallied 9,162 votes (58.5 percent), compared to Halleck’s 6,480.

Strickland said he was confident throughout the evening, especially after winning some of the northern counties.

"People in my district know what kind of representative I am," he said. "I think my reputation followed me up north."

He said he does not really feel joy or excitement about winning an election,

just responsibility to get the job done.

"I want to thank (the voters) and commit to them. When responsible for representing more than 600,000 men, women and children, it is a serious matter," he said. "I have a responsibility to them."

Strickland will begin representing the redistricted 6th in January and will have to move three of his offices that are no longer in the new district.

"Ted's victory in Lawrence County clearly indicates that he shares southern Ohioans' values and he is in touch with his constituents," said David Classing, South Point councilman and Lawrence County coordinator for Strickland.

In addition to continuing projects he has already supported such as the Chesapeake Bypass and Empowerment Zone funding,

he said he wants to focus on providing health care for everyone.

"We won't be satisfied until we have a health care system that makes sense," he said. "It must be affordable and not discriminate against citizens."

Halleck said he does not feel as bad as some would expect.

"We have had better days, but we put up a good fight," he said. "I have been in this business for a long time and I never got into it for myself. I feel badly for all the people around me who believed I was a better candidate."

"My heart goes out to all my friends and family. People treated me excellent and I have no regrets," he said. "If people had gotten a chance to know me better the outcome could have been different."

Halleck said he may have underestimated how much money is needed but it is too late to worry about that now.

"I don't look back. I wish Mr. Strickland the best," he said. "Let's see him honor the commitments he made. I want the people in southern Ohio to go back to work."