Chris Redfern

The Ohio Democratic Party released some numbers in the 2008 election that they say explain "how we did it."

Calling the figures "mind-bending metrics," the ODP says they won at all levels because the ODP, President-elect Sen. Barack Obama's Campaign for Change and their coordinated campaign partners worked together in an "unprecedented manner."

The figures say that the Campaign for Change and the ODP registered 105,862 new Ohio voters during the 2008 cycle.

The ODP said that Democrats now have a registration advantage of 986,495 in Ohio, which they called the highest in a generation.

COLUMBUS - Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern said that Ohio Republicans would have been better off in the 2008 Election cycle if they had focused their efforts on their candidates and message instead of filing lawsuits and going after Democratic Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Redfern said that not since current U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain) has Ohio had a Secreaty of State as tough and fair as Brunner.

Redfern said that he believes the only person in Ohio who thought that there would be problems with the elections was Ohio Republican Party deputy chair Kevin DeWine.

The Ohio Democratic Party held a press conference Wednesday, saying that the new Democratic Majority in the Ohio House of Representatives will give Gov. Ted Strickland a legislative partner to help turn around Ohio.

One of the biggest victories for the party on Tuesday night was the Ohio Democrats taking the Ohio House of Representatives from Republican control after 14 years.

The ODP said that by winning back the Ohio House, Strickland now has "a productive legislative partner to help continue to turn around Ohio and improve the lives of working families."

Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern (D-Catawba Island) talked up Democratic numbers in Franklin County while making the case that Democrats are confident Franklin Co. Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy (D-Columbus) will end up winning the race for Ohio's 15th Congressional District.

Redfern pointed to the performance of businessman David W. Robinson (D-Columbus) in Franklin County in his race against U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Westerville). Robinson lost the race to Tiberi, but Redfern said that Robinson outperformed Tiberi in Franklin County by around 7,000 votes. Redfern said this bodes well for Kilroy.

About 300 votes currently separate Kilroy from opponent state Sen. Steve Stivers (R-Columbus) in Ohio's 15th, with Stivers currently in the lead.

The Ohio Democratic Party has released a statement from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland wherein he congratulated statehouse Democrats "on the new House Democratic majority." 

"The people have spoken," Strickland said. "I want to congratulate Ohio House minority leader Joyce Beatty, state Rep. Armond Budish and House Democrats for their significant victory tonight. I know our new Democratic House majority stands ready to work in a bipartisan manner to help create new jobs, improve access to health care and help make our schools the best in the nation."

Strickland said the Democrats will serve as strong voices for their constituents in the House and will partner with him as they work to move Ohio forward.

Redfern with Richard Cordray, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, Strickland in Dublin

MARYSVILLE -- Ohio’s three senior Democrats told PolitickerOH.com that their party is far ahead of where it was when it gained power in 2006 and is playing in more parts of the state than in recent memory.

After a campaign stop for Barack Obama, Gov. Ted Strickland, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern said the party’s dramatically stronger than where it was just two years ago.

Strickland said the party has outraised all other state Democratic parties in the country, created an “unparalleled” voter identification file and hired 650 paid employees, a total that includes Obama employees.  

“It’s like comparing night and day, sweet and sour, light and dark,” Strickland said of the ODP in 2006 and 2008.

Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 1466 secretary Chuck Tippie speak at the 'Job Killers' rally held in Columbus on Tuesday with U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Congressional candidates Sharen Neuhardt and David W. Robinson.

 Sherrod Brown, Chris Redfern, Sharen Neuhardt and David Robinson: Politicker Photo

COLUMBUS - Ohio Democratic leaders gathered in the Alcatel-Lucent Columbus plant's parking lot Tuesday afternoon on the first stop of what's being billed as "Bush/McCain/NAFTA: The Job Killers Tour."

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorain), Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern, along with Congressional candidates Sharen Neuhardt (D-Yellow Springs) and David W. Robinson (D-Columbus) gathered with local union members to rally at the Alcatel-Lucent parking lot, as the telecommunications equipment company continues plant shutdown procedures and nears the end of a layoff of nearly 200 electronics manufacturing employees.

"Ohio's economy is on the wrong track after years of Republican indifference and incompetence have brought us to the brink of economic disaster," said Neuhardt. "We need the right leaders, working together in Washington, to rebuild our state and the nation. But if we're ever going to change how things work in Washington, we have to change who we send there."

COLUMBUS – Republicans don’t want “Joe the Plumber” to be able to vote.

That’s what Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern said today on the steps of the Statehouse of the national and state Republicans efforts to require all voter registrations to match information on-file with state motor vehicle agencies and the Social Security Administration.

Tuesday the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) must verify eligibility of new voters and make that eligibility information available to all 88 county boards of election. Brunner has appealed the case, saying the ruling will destabilize Ohio’s election system. 

Former President Bill Clinton is coming to Ohio this week for a grassroots fundraiser to rally Ohio Democrats.

Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern sent an e-mail inviting supporters to join Clinton, Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio Democratic Party for the event at the Renaissance Hotel in Columbus on Thursday.

The pitch to supporters says that they "can make a difference by joining President Bill Clinton and Governor Ted Strickland at our last grassroots fundraiser to rally Ohio Democrats before Election Day."