Report. Reflect. Respond.
Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of The Pennant. To listen to this newsletter, click the “Listen Online” link in the top right corner of this email.
On this day in 1879, Dayton inventor James Ritty patented an early mechanical cash register, designed to stop dishonest employees from stealing money from his saloon.
Ohio voters headed to the polls Tuesday to decide the state's next governor, a closely watched U.S. Senate race, and local issues, including Grove City's controversial development amendment.
And NetJets plans to add 800 jobs through a major Columbus headquarters expansion, while more than 420 Ohio workers face layoffs and closures at six companies statewide.
Top of The Fold
Acton, Ramaswamy Battle for Ohio Governor
COLUMBUS — Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in Tuesday's closely watched race for Ohio governor.
Democrat Amy Acton, Ohio's former health director, faced Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman and former presidential candidate. Neither had previously held elected office.
The winner will succeed Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who could not seek another term because of term limits. The race drew national attention and more than $100 million in campaign spending. See more on the results here.
Brown, Husted Battle for Ohio Senate Seat
COLUMBUS — Sherrod Brown defeated Jon Husted in Tuesday's closely watched U.S. Senate race.
Democrat Sherrod Brown sought a return to Washington after losing his Senate seat in 2024. Republican Jon Husted, Ohio's former lieutenant governor, was appointed to the Senate in 2025 after JD Vance became vice president.
The winner will serve the remaining two years of Vance's term. The race also carried national significance as both parties fought for control of the Senate. Read the election results.
Grove City Voters Decide Issue 28
GROVE CITY — Voters approved Issue 28 Tuesday, a charter amendment requiring voter approval of major developments exceeding certain land, electricity, or water-use thresholds.
Sparked by opposition to a proposed data center, the measure drew support from residents seeking greater control and criticism from those concerned about economic development.
Page One
National
WASHINGTON — Democrats won control of the House and the Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections, determining the balance of power during President Donald Trump's final two years. NBC election coverage.
MICHIGAN — As of 12 a.m. Tuesday, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed led Republican Mike Rogers by just one point in Michigan's closely watched U.S. Senate race, a key contest in determining control of Congress. See full results.
WASHINGTON — Two closely watched Senate races in Republican strongholds produced Democrat Annie Andrews in South Carolina and Democrat Adam Hamilton in Kansas, helping determine control of the chamber. Election results.
Statewide
COLUMBUS — Ohio voters approved Issue 3 Tuesday, deciding whether to place the state's existing photo identification requirements for voting into the Ohio Constitution. Read more.
COLUMBUS — As of 12 a.m. Tuesday, Keith Faber was ahead of John Kulewicz in Ohio's attorney general race Tuesday. Republican Keith Faber faced Democrat John Kulewicz in the contest to replace Dave Yost. Results.
COLUMBUS — Voters approved proposed changes to Columbus City Council elections Tuesday. Issues 8 and 9 offered competing approaches to how council members are elected. Read more.
TOLEDO — As of 12 a.m. Tuesday, the Lucas County Board of Elections had not reported whether voters had approved or rejected Issue 16, which would decide whether to impose a temporary 0.25% income tax to support neighborhood safety, police and fire operations. Find updates on the results here.
CINCINNATI — Voters approved a Cincinnati Public Schools property tax levy Tuesday. The five-year, 7-mill proposal would raise more than $66 million annually. Read more.
COLUMBUS — Ohio voters decided two Supreme Court races Tuesday, with Republican Daniel Hawkins and Democrat Jennifer Brunner leading by thin majorities as of midnight on Tuesday. The outcomes will help determine the court's makeup as it considers major state legal questions. Results.
Business/Government
NetJets Expansion to Bring 800 New Jobs to Columbus
By The Pennant Staff and News Reports
COLUMBUS — Private aviation company NetJets plans to add 800 jobs as part of a major expansion of its global headquarters near John Glenn Columbus International Airport.
The company announced plans this week to add more than 365,000 square feet to its Bridgeway Avenue campus. The project includes two new buildings with additional office space and a training center, along with a parking garage and expanded dining and event facilities.
NetJets expects its Central Ohio workforce to grow from about 2,400 to 3,200 employees when construction is completed in early 2029.
The expansion follows the June opening of a renovated NetJets Flight Center. Ohio-based companies Daimler Group and Vocon are involved in the project.
Construction will proceed in phases, pending final approvals. More on this story here.
Editorial
Ohio Layoffs Top 420 as Companies Announce Cuts and Closures
By The Pennant Staff and News Reports
COLUMBUS — More than 420 Ohio workers face layoffs following notices filed by employers during October, including 77 employees at a Morton Salt mine northeast of Cleveland.
Morton Salt halted operations at its Fairport Harbor mine after a significant water intrusion was discovered Oct. 22. All miners were evacuated safely, but the company subsequently laid off 69 union workers and eight salaried employees.
Other companies reporting job cuts include Packaging Corporation of America in Middletown, with 91 affected workers; Markdom Plastics in Bellevue, with 82; Pixelle Specialty Solutions in Fremont, with 61; and The Blade newspaper in the Toledo area, with 116.
The notices were filed under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which generally requires larger employers to provide advance notice of qualifying layoffs or plant closings. Read the full story here.
The Back Page
How pleased are you with the election results?
Previous Poll Results
In honor of National Ohio Day, what is your favorite part about Ohio?
- The people/culture - 38%
- The weather - 12%
- The landscape - 25%
- The history - 25%
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