Rivers Wins Ohio Senate District 19 Seat
Republican Ryan Rivers defeats Democrat Scott Charland in the four-county district that includes Knox, Delaware, Coshocton and Holmes counties.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
Live Poll
Do you trust local officials to actually lower your property taxes?
Ryan Rivers won Ohio's 19th Senate District on Tuesday, defeating Scott Charland by a margin of 55.37% to 44.63% in unofficial results. The victory keeps the seat in Republican hands.
Why it matters
Rivers' win gives Republicans another term representing the district, which spans Knox, Delaware, Coshocton and Holmes counties. Both candidates ran on property tax and public policy platforms that will shape the next legislative term.
Rivers received 86,920 votes, or 55.37%, compared with Charland's 70,073 votes, or 44.63%, across 156,993 total votes in the four counties. The figures are unofficial, and certified totals were not yet available in the source material.
The players
Ryan Rivers
Rivers is a Republican businessman from central Ohio who previously served as an Orange Township trustee and as past president of the Delaware County Township Association.
Scott Charland
Charland is the Democratic candidate who ran on public education, natural resource protection and a wealth tax in the 19th Senate District race.
The details
Rivers is a central Ohio businessman with a communications degree from Ohio University and previously served as an Orange Township trustee in Delaware County. He ran on property tax reductions, careful spending, protection for seniors, increased transparency and giving taxpayers a voice, while Charland campaigned on strong public education, protecting natural resources, a wealth tax and a working-class economic policy.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Election held and Rivers defeats Charland.
November 4, 2026: Results reported in print and online.
Political Context
The race keeps a multi-county Ohio district in Republican hands, with Rivers' platform centering on property tax relief while Charland pushed a wealth tax and expanded public education funding. The contrast reflects the broader policy divide over how state revenue should be raised and spent.
Rivers has said his first priority will be reducing property taxes and providing meaningful relief for Ohio families. Residents of Knox, Delaware, Coshocton and Holmes counties may see legislative action on tax policy in the coming session.
The takeaway
District voters chose a candidate focused on property tax relief over one emphasizing a wealth tax and public education investment. Readers tracking Ohio tax policy should watch how Rivers' priorities translate into legislation.
Further reading
For more on how state legislative races are decided, see Elections coverage across Ohio.
Live Poll
Do you trust local officials to actually lower your property taxes?
