The Associated Press is reporting that three-time Buckeye Firearms Association endorsee Joy Padgett defeated her four opponents in the special Republican primary election held today in the 18th congressional district.

href="http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/bios/graphics/s_20_large.jpg"> src="http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/bios/graphics/s_20_small.jpg" height=143
width=109 border=0 align="right">
With all 630 precincts (100 percent) counted, the unofficial vote totals are:

Joy Padgett - 9,451 - 66 percent
James Brodbelt Harris - 2,102 - 15 percent
Ray Feikert - 1433 - 10 percent
Ralph Applegate - 768 - 5 percent
Jerry Firman - 490 - 3 percent

We would like to thank all the Second Amendment rights supporters who helped make this victory possible.

Senator Joy Padgett has pro-hunting and pro-self defense convictions that the people of her district understand and practice. Her ability to connect with the voters on many levels helped propel her to an overwhelming victory yesterday. She will now take the momentum from yesterday’s win into the fall election.

Click on 'Read More' for expanded coverage.