CLEVELAND, May 8 (UPI) -- Ohio state Sen. Timothy Ryan on Tuesday captured the Democratic nomination in Ohio's redrawn 17th Congressional District, defeating incumbent Tom Sawyer and setting up a general election contest against flamboyant, recently convicted Rep. James Traficant, who has filed to run as an independent.
Ohio lost two seats in the House as a result of the 2002 census and the legislature placed Sawyer and Traficant in the same district. Traficant, 61, an eight-term Democrat who was convicted on 10 felony counts, including racketeering, faces possible ouster from the House and a possible maximum 63-year prison term.
Ryan captured 41 percent of the vote to Sawyer's 27 percent in a field of six candidates in a district that for the first time includes both Akron and Youngstown. The November race also will be complicated by the independent candidacy of union leader Warren Davis, who along with Traficant filed nominating petitions Monday. State Rep. Ann Womer Benjamin faced no opposition on the Republican side.
In the redrawn 3rd Congressional District, three Republicans vied for the nomination to represent what has historically been a Democratic district. Incumbent GOP Rep. Tony Hall decided against seeking re-election and his Democratic successor, Richard A. Carne, ran without opposition.
On the Republican side, former Dayton Mayor Michael Turner handily defeated newspaper publisher Roy E. Brown and environmental consultant Gregory E. Hunter.
In other races:
-- In the 2nd Congressional District, Charles Sanders captured the Democratic nod, overcoming two opponents. He will face incumbent Republican Rob Portman in November.
-- Incumbent Republican Rep. Michael Oxley posted a nearly 3-to-1 margin over challenger James Stahl in the 4th Congressional District. Jim Clark ran uncontested for the Democratic nod.
-- In the 5th Congressional District, incumbent Rep. Paul Gillmor trounced challenger Rex Damschroder by a nearly 3-to-1 margin in the Republican primary and will face Democrat Roger Anderson in the general election.
-- In the 6th, Mike Hallek defeated Lyle Williams for the Republican nomination. On the Democratic side, incumbent Ted Strickland piled up a 67 percent plurality over two opponents.
-- In the 7th, Republican incumbent Dave Hobson garnered 69 percent of the vote, defeating three challengers and will face Democrat Kara Anastasio in the fall.
-- In the 8th, incumbent John Boehner captured 85 percent of the vote to win the Republican nod and will face Democrat Jeff Hardenbrook in November.
-- Incumbent Deborah Price handily defeated Charlie Morrison to win the Republican nomination in the 15th. On the Democratic side, Mark Brown defeated Tabatha Cowans.
-- In the only contested statewide race, Mary O. Boyle of Cleveland defeated Willis E. Blackshear of Dayton for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer.
