Fudge defeats Goldstein for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District

ALYSSA SCHMITT | STAFF REPORTER aschmitt@cjn.org | @AlyssaSchmitCJN

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, D-Warrensville Heights, was re-elected to Ohio’s 11th Congressional District seat Nov. 6, defeating Republican opponent Beverly Goldstein and independent write-in candidate James Jerome Bell.

According to final, unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, Fudge earned 197,147 votes (81.94 percent) to Goldstein’s 43,443 votes (18.06 percent) and Bell had 20 votes (0.01 percent).

community and Columbus Jewish community –that we’re far from done. We want to continue to be contributors in every sector: business, law, medicine and government. So, it’s really a great feeling because there’s pride in our community about that – and that goes for Republicans and Democrats, because we’ve had both in different offices.”

Dettelbach cast his ballot on Election Day joined by his wife, Karil Bialostosky, and their two children, Allie and David. As he exited his polling location, he described voting for himself as “both a surreal and humbling experience.” By day’s end, he admitted being “deeply disappointed” by the results while acknowledging “this is our democratic process.”

“These aren’t the results I wanted, (and) they aren’t the results I expected, but it’s the way the vote came out,” he said. “For me, my whole career – my whole life – I’ve spent trying to fight for justice and to make the world a better place, and that’s what I plan to keep doing.”

Staff Reporter Ed Carroll contributed to this story.

Michael Goldstein, Beverly Goldstein’s husband and spokesperson, said the center of her campaign was providing the opportunity for employment for people in the inner city through education and job training. Without these options, those residents will not be able to get a job and will remain on government assistance “for the rest of their lives,” he said.

“The problem is getting that message across,” he said. “(Beverly Goldstein) had fabulous numbers on social media within the district, but apparently that isn’t enough to get the message across. People in the district decided they would remain with the current congresswoman, who has provided no leadership for 10 years and doesn’t even recognize the root of the problem.”

Bell wished Fudge “the best,” but said he looks forward to 2020 and developing a platform that will resonate with the people of the 11th district.

“I also think that my platform of reparations, abolishing the Second Amendment, universal basic income and also environmental sustainability was truly, most magnificently, at the core of redemptive spirit of a new America,” he said. Fudge did not respond to a request for comment from the Cleveland Jewish News.