RICHLAND COUNTY — Bob Latta will continue to represent northern parts of Richland County in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Republican from Bluffton was elected Tuesday to his 11th term in Congress on Tuesday in the 5th U.S. District, an area that includes all or parts of nine counties in northwest Ohio.
The district includes communities and areas across the northern tier of Richland County such as Shelby and Plymouth.
In Richland County, the 70-year-old Latta received 65.23 percent of the votes cast with 15,572 total, according to final, unofficial totals from the Richland County Board of Elections.
Democrat Brian Shaver had 7,581 votes and Libertarian Michael Veoloff received 721, according to Richland County elections officials.
“I am honored to have been reelected by the voters of Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District to continue representing them in the United States House of Representatives,” Latta said in a statement after his win.
“Thank you to the voters for entrusting me with this great responsibility of being your voice in Congress. The confidence you have placed in me over the years is humbling,” he said in the statement.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website late Tuesday night, Latta had received 54.26 percent of the votes across the district. Shaver received 42.56 percent and Veloff had 3.18 percent.
Despite securing well over 50 percent of the vote, Latta’s district swung more Democratic than it has in previous years, with 13 more points in favor of the Democrats compared to 2024, as reported by The New York Times.
Latta followed his father, Del, into politics, with the elder Latta serving the 5th District for 15 terms from 1959 to 1989.
Bob Latta first took the same seat in 2007, and has been the seat’s staple ever since.
What did Latta campaign on?
Energy was at the forefront of Latta’s campaign for an 11th term. In the House of Representatives, Latta serves as the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy.
“We have to produce more energy in this country, and every witness that’s come before us in the last several years … has said the same thing,” Latta said. “You can have all the energy in the world, but you can’t move it from point A to point B; it’s worthless. That’s one of my top priorities right there.”
Latta also campaigned on the national debt. He called the U.S.’s $40 trillion in debt unsustainable and previously pushed for a “balanced budget amendment for the Constitution.”
“Representing Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District is one of the great honors of my life, and I’m proud to continue my work in Washington,” Latta said in his victory statement.
What did his opponent have to say?
Democratic candidate for the U.S. Fifth Congressional District, Brian Shaver, ran a grassroots campaign on affordability, accountability and availability.
“While our grassroots strategy was something this district hasn’t seen in quite a while, I’d argue David faced a fairer fight against Goliath,” Shaver said. “After all, Goliath stood on his own two feet and wasn’t supported by out-of-state money and influence.
“My opponent openly bragged that he wasn’t even campaigning for votes … Meanwhile, I was out every day, building relationships locally and hearing from in-district voters about their concerns and hopes for the district.”
Shaver worked as a teacher throughout his campaign. He announced that he will run again in 2028.
“I entered this race because I believe in the people who live here, and that commitment remains as strong today as ever,” Shaver said. “I’m proud of the conversations we started and the vision we share for our community.”
