Columbus City Councilwoman Shayla Favor won the Democratic primary for the top job in the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office.
Favor won with 41% of the vote, according to unofficial voting results released through the Franklin County Board of Elections. Favor won over 27,000 votes in the primary with her nearest opponent, Democrat Anthony Pierson, getting just under 24,000 votes.
She defeated fellow Democrats Natalia Harris and Pierson in the race. Pierson had 35% of the vote, while Harris received 24% of the vote.
Favor spoke to supporters at a watch party just after 9 p.m. when most of the county's 888 precincts had reported in. Favor said she believes she won because she shared a vision of change for the community and the voters agreed. Favor said she recognized she would become the first Black person and woman elected to the office should she win in November.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to break some proverbial ceilings that have been in place for Black and Brown women in our community. But the time is now for change," Favor said.
Favor will go on to run against Republican defense attorney John Rutan in November.
Favor invoked former New York Congresswoman and civil rights activist Shirley Chisholm's famous quote “If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."
"And when we win this election in November... We're going to need a whole lot of chairs," Favor said.
Favorsaid during her campaign she was the candidate of change in the race. She said during interviews and at forums she wanted to usher in a new era for the office following Democrat Gary Tyack's retirement.
Favor has served on Columbus City Council since she was appointed in 2019 and was a Columbus City Attorney for five years before joining council, mainly prosecuting nuisance properties and blight with what is now called the city's Property Action Team.
Favor faced Pierson, a current employee of the county prosecutor's office, and Harris, the Delaware City Attorney.
Months ago, Favor spearheaded an effort to ask the county party not to endorse in the three-way race. She succeeded after the party narrowly voted not to endorse in the race. Favor had the support of many members of Columbus City Council while Pierson had Tyack's endorsement.
Favor said she deeply respects her opponents and expressed gratitude for a spirited and hard fought campaign.
"While I am incredibly respectful of my opponents, I prevailed today because once again, I shared a vision for leadership, for change for Franklin County. And the voters agreed with me," Favor said.
The race was not without controversy. The spirited three-person campaign involved intense criticism between Favor and Pierson's campaigns in the closing days.
Pierson accused Favor of misleading people with robotexts claiming she had prosecuted violent criminals in court. Favor did prosecute properties and got courts to shut down properties that violent crimes occurred around, but never prosecuted a felony case.
On Election Day, Favor and the Franklin County Democratic Party Chair Michael Sexton criticized Pierson for distributing a flyer to voters that mimicked the party's sample ballot card. The flyer correctly stated Pierson was recommended by the party's screening committee, but Sexton and Favor said the flyer misled voters into believing he had the party's endorsement.
Pierson also faced questions about his residency because he owned homes with his wife in both Franklin County and Delaware County.
"We said this race was about more than being a trial attorney. It was about being a leader and a change agent. And voters agreed," Favor said.
Pierson and Harris could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Favor said her focus wasn't on, Rutan, her next opponent Tuesday night, but she did say it was her mission to work to get Democrats elected up and down the ballot and unite the party after the primary.
All results are unofficial until certified by the Franklin County Board of Elections.
