Rulli Takes Lead Over Kirtley in Ohio's 6th

Republican Michael Rulli overtook Democratic challenger Elizabeth Kirtley in the 6th Congressional District race as later vote counts came in on election night.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Rulli Takes Lead Over Kirtley in Ohio's 6th

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Democratic challenger Elizabeth Kirtley led Republican Congressman Michael Rulli in early election-night results in Ohio's 6th Congressional District. By 8:36 p.m., Rulli had moved ahead, 57,081 to 56,336, according to the Ohio Secretary of State.

Why it matters

The shift shows how the outcome in Ohio's 6th District depended on vote totals from counties beyond Kirtley's early strength. Rulli's lead came from outside Mahoning County, where Kirtley had been ahead.

Unofficial Secretary of State tallies showed Kirtley ahead at 44,362 to 38,799 before Rulli overtook her, 57,081 to 56,336, by 8:36 p.m. The extraction does not confirm how many ballots remained uncounted or when the race would be called.

The players

Michael Rulli

Republican congressman representing Ohio's 6th District, who succeeded Bill Johnson after winning a June 2024 special election.

Elizabeth Kirtley

Democratic challenger in Ohio's 6th Congressional District who won her party's May 2026 primary in a six-candidate field.

The details

Kirtley led in Mahoning County 20,506 to 11,911, while Rulli led in Tuscarawas County 6,087 to 5,717 and in all other district counties. Kirtley won a six-candidate Democratic primary in May, and Rulli defeated GOP challenger Jullie Kelley in the same period.

June 2024: Rulli won a special election to succeed Bill Johnson as congressman.
November 2024: Rulli defeated Michael Kripchak for a full two-year term.
May 2026: Kirtley won the Democratic primary, and Rulli beat Kelley.
November 3, 2026: Rulli overtook Kirtley at 8:36 p.m. on election night.

Political Context

Rulli first won this seat in a June 2024 special election to succeed Bill Johnson, then won a full term in November 2024 with 66.74% of the vote. The 2026 contest is a sharply closer test of that electoral strength against Kirtley.

Ohio's 6th District outcome depends on final counts, which can change the result. Voters should watch official Secretary of State updates before treating any election-night lead as settled.

The takeaway

Election-night leads can shift as more votes are counted, especially when they depend on different county results. Following official updates matters more than early totals.