Fowler Arthur wins re-election in Ohio 99th district

Nov. 6—Republican State Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur was re-elected to Ohio's 99th House District Tuesday night, defeating Democratic opponent Louis Murphy.

Fowler Arthur received a total of 37,634 votes in Ashtabula and Geauga counties, to Murphy's 20,724 votes, according to preliminary results from the Ohio Secretary of State's website.

Fowler Arthur, a small business owner, homeschool graduate and foster-to-adopt parent, was first elected to the seat in 2020.

"I'm excited to be working with the incoming team," she said. "It looks like we are going to have a great group of incoming Republican freshman [expecting around 18 to 20].

"I'm looking forward to continuing the work on the economic side, reducing the red tape around occupational licensure, continuing to reduce the state income tax and continuing to be a strong voice for conservative family values."

Fowler Arthur said she is ready for her third term in office, and is grateful that the district continues to have faith in her ability to serve.

"I look forward to continuing to serve the people in District 99, and I'm very honored to be elected to serve in this capacity," she said.

Fowler Arthur said there were great teams in both Geauga and Ashtabula counties who helped her campaign.

"I'm very appreciative of everyone at the Republican headquarters who got signs out and I'm grateful for the many people who volunteered ... helping with events, door-knocking/in-person interactions with the voters and those who donated. It's definitely a marathon, not a sprint."

Murphy is currently teaching honors physical science and biology for Ashtabula Area City Schools.

Murphy said he stepped into the race because he felt an obligation to progress the region and state forward economically, academically and socially.

Fowler Arthur led early Tuesday night, receiving 16,545 votes to Murphy's 10,265 votes, according to the Secretary of State's website.

"Fowler leads by 5,000 between Ashtabula and Geauga with less than 40 percent reporting," Murphy said early Tuesday night. "The 99th district is very gerrymandered to benefit her significantly. I am surprised she's not winning by more with how many people vote purely down the ballot on the Republican side."

The district has changed significantly since 2020, when Fowler Arthur was elected. At that time, the district consisted of the majority of Ashtabula County, and portions of Geauga County, but it was changed during the prolonged redistricting process after the 2020 federal census.

In Ashtabula County, the district now consists of the cities of Ashtabula and Conneaut, North Kingsville and Geneva-on-the-Lake villages, and Ashtabula, Plymouth, Saybrook, Trumbull and portions of Geneva and Harpersfield townships.