Stivers took 66.15 percent of the total amongst more than 190,000 voters who cast ballots in the district, compared to Wharton’s 33.85 percent. In the 12-county district, Athens County was the only one that voted in Wharton’s favor — with 62.72 percent of the countywide vote.
Shortly after winning re-election, U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, said he just wants to get back to work.
The incumbent Congressman for Ohio’s 15th House District — a region stretching between Athens and Franklin counties — won his race against Delta Airlines pilot and Ohio University grad Scott Wharton.
Stivers took 66.15 percent of the total amongst more than 190,000 voters who cast ballots in the district, compared to Wharton’s 33.85 percent. In the 12-county district, Athens County was the only one that voted in Wharton’s favor — with 62.72 percent of the countywide vote.
Stivers told The Post Tuesday night he felt humbled that voters returned him to Congress to try to continue “their work” — and there’s a lot left to do, he added.
“We worked really hard at talking to all the voters, and I think that matters,” he said of his campaign’s strengths.
He also said he thinks his values are much more attuned to the voters in the district than Wharton’s, which helped him in the election.
“I’m not going to trash my opponent,” Stivers maintained, insisting that it wasn’t something he did during the campaign, nor was it something he was going to do after the campaign.
Wharton is a nice man and served his country honorably in the military, Stivers said.
There won’t be much action to watch until January, he added, and that activity may be limited to a few things like keeping the government transparent.
But he wouldn’t rule out anything.
“I think we’ll start to see real legislating in January,” he said.
His priorities include a continued focus on growing jobs and improving the business climate, as well as tax reform, addressing the high costs of health insurance and health care and a national energy policy.
Stivers said fighting for a more balanced budget is another top concern.
Wharton, who attacked Stivers multiple times throughout the campaign for being beholden to special interest groups, released a statement Tuesday night criticizing the Congressional status quo.
Wharton said it is important for people to stand up against special interests such as banks and insurance companies.
“I believe that Congress is captive to career politicians who work within a system that is putting large corporate interests first. That’s why I ran,” Wharton said.
Wharton thanked those who helped the campaign, calling them “Wharton Warriors.”
According to the release, Wharton said he is unsure of whether or not he will pursue the position of representative of the district in the future but added that he had plenty of time to decide.
Stivers’ annual salary as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives is $174,000.
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