Former Ohio House Representative Jay Edwards secured the Republican nomination for state treasurer late Tuesday, defeating state Sen. Kristina Roegner in a closely watched primary.

With more than 90 percent of precincts reporting, Edwards received 403,299 votes or 53 percent to Roegner's 357,742 votes or 47 percent, according to results from The New York Times. The Associated Press called the race for Edwards around 11 p.m. with over 92 percent of Election Day precincts counted.

The contest pitted two term-limited Republican lawmakers against each other for the open seat. Incumbent Treasurer Robert Sprague, also a Republican, is barred by term limits from seeking re-election and is running for secretary of state. Edwards, a Nelsonville Republican who represented Athens, Meigs, and Washington counties in the House from 2017 to 2025, chaired the House Finance Committee in recent years. He touted his experience overseeing state appropriations, sponsoring a $3.2 billion tax cut, and universal school choice legislation.

A realtor and small business owner with a mathematics degree from Ohio University, Edwards aligned himself with President Trump's agenda and the blue-collar middle class. He received high-profile endorsements from Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno.

Roegner, who has served in the General Assembly for 15 years, including her current role in the state Senate representing parts of Portage, Summit, and Geauga counties, previously sat on the Hudson City Council. Holding degrees from Tufts University in mechanical engineering and an MBA from Wharton, she worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and for Westinghouse. She campaigned on fiscal discipline, opposing ESG investments and prioritizing Ohio-first banking.

Roegner drew support from most Republican leaders, including gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, House Speaker Matt Huffman, and Senate President Rob McColley, along with a supermajority of her GOP Senate colleagues. In a statement after the results, she thanked supporters and congratulated the winners, emphasizing unity among Ohio Republicans for responsible government and economic growth.

The primary stood out as one of the most competitive in Ohio's 2026 primaries, lacking an endorsement from the state Republican Party. Edwards now advances to face Democrat Seth Walsh, a Cincinnati City Council member who won his party's nomination unopposed, in the November general election. Republicans hold a strong position to retain the office, as state Auditor Keith Faber won it by 17 points in 2022.