Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague secured the Republican nomination for secretary of state on Tuesday, defeating retired Air Force intelligence officer Marcell Strbich by a wide margin in the May 5 primary.

Sprague received 70% of the vote, or 443,972 ballots, compared to Strbich's 30%, or 190,648 votes, with all precincts reporting. The total turnout in the Republican primary for the office stood at 634,620 votes. The Associated Press called the race for Sprague shortly after polls closed at 7:30 p.m.

Sprague, who has served as Ohio's treasurer since 2019, earned the backing of the Ohio Republican Party's State Central Committee earlier this year by a vote of 52-11. His campaign emphasized election security measures, including photo ID requirements, citizenship verification, paper ballots, and limiting mail-in voting in favor of in-person options. During the race, Sprague's ads highlighted protections against voter fraud using creative imagery like puppets, zombies, and aliens.

Strbich, a combat veteran and political outsider, positioned himself as a fresh alternative to career politicians. Early polls showed him with some support among undecided voters, but he trailed significantly on election night. The race was one of several statewide primaries, including contests for governor and U.S. Senate.

On the Democratic side, state Rep. Allison Russo won her party's nomination, defeating oncologist Bryan Hambley 67.8% to 32.2%, or 360,371 to 171,077 votes, in a field of 531,448 total ballots. Hambley conceded shortly after 8 p.m. and endorsed Russo, praising her vision for democracy.

Russo, who represented parts of Columbus and Upper Arlington and served as House Minority Leader until stepping down to run, focused her campaign on making the secretary of state's office nonpartisan. She cited her experience on the Ohio Redistricting Commission and criticized past leadership for alleged ballot language manipulation.

The secretary of state position, currently held by Frank LaRose, oversees elections in Ohio. It is an open seat in November's general election, where Sprague will face Russo and Libertarian Tom Pruss. Both major party nominees bring experience in state government, setting up a contest centered on election administration and integrity.

Sprague's decisive victory underscores strong support from Republican primary voters for his fiscal management record as treasurer and party establishment ties. The general election is set for November 3.