Diane Mullins, pastor of Calvary Church in Hamilton, secured victory in Tuesday’s Republican primary for the Ohio House seat that represents Oxford, defeating incumbent Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton).
According to the Butler County Board of Elections, Mullins clinched victory in Ohio’s House 47th District, which covers Hamilton and the northern part of Butler County, with 53% of the vote.
“I am humbled and honored to have won the primary election,” Mullins said in an email.
Mullins expressed appreciation for a congratulatory call from Carruthers yesterday.
“I appreciate Carruthers’ call to me last night to congratulate me on my win. That’s not an easy call to make. I’ve made that call before. I respect her for reaching out to me,” she said.
Carruthers, who has held office since 2019, faced setbacks following her censure by the Butler County GOP in March 2023, along with 21 other Republicans, for supporting Rep. Jason Stephens as Ohio House speaker. This censure led to diminished support from certain party members, according to Carruthers.
Carruthers voiced disappointment with the election outcome and frustration over the alleged harassment of her campaign volunteers by local supporters of Mullins.
“This is a much bigger deal than it has ever happened in the house,” she said over the phone. “This is dirty. They are trying to flip the house,” she added.
Mullins’ campaign manager Art Sauerwein said he’s working on and debriefing the information about the incidents at the polls yesterday.
“I have three videos of college-age workers wearing Carruthers shirts who were manipulating voters with deceptive conversations. I will have a press release in the coming days,” he said.
“I have done such good things for my district. This is outrageous,” Carruthers said.
“But I thank my campaign team for their hard work. They are young people from around here, and this gives me hope for the future because they show how much they care,” Carruthers added.
Mullins extended her thanks to her team and to the people who voted for her.
“I want to thank my team for their hard work, laboring for hours throughout my campaign. I appreciate all who voted for me,” she said.
“I will work hard for my constituents and never forget who put me in Columbus to represent District 47 of Butler County, Ohio,” Mullins added.
Mullins is set to face unopposed Democratic nominee, Rev. Vanessa Cummings, pastor of Hamilton’s Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in the Nov. 5 general election to represent the predominantly Republican district.
