In a year of record-low approval ratings for the U.S. Congress, southwest Ohio voters expressed confidence in their incumbent representatives Tuesday, re-electing Republicans Mike Turner, Steve Chabot, Jim Jordan and John Boehner.

Turner’s race was expected to be the most competitive, as he faced a redrawn and more politically balanced district, as well as a well-funded opponent in Democrat Sharen Neuhardt.

But unofficial results Tuesday showed Turner solidly ahead of Neuhardt, and Libertarian David Harlow a distant third with the majority of precincts reporting.

“For me, it has always been about having a bipartisan approach to our community,” Turner said. “You see that in my work with the local elected leadership and with my work in Congress. The issues that we have here are not partisan issues, they’re economic issues, and those are the ones I want to focus on.”

For 10 years, Turner has represented the 3rd Congressional District – most of Montgomery County, northern Warren County and all of Clinton and Highland counties. Next year, because of redistricting, he will represent the new 10th District, which includes all of Montgomery and Greene counties, plus part of Fayette County.

Turner gets major support from Montgomery County’s Republican-leaning suburbs, but also draws votes from the city of Dayton, where he served as mayor from 1994-2001. The closest of his five previous Congressional elections was a 58-41 margin in 2006.

Terry Hill Jr., who voted at the Greater Allen AME Church on West Fifth Street in Dayton, said he supported Turner because of what he’s done for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and for the city of Dayton.

“We need experience,” Hill said. “I use the analogy that if I’m going in for open-heart surgery, I don’t want a resident physician operating on me. I want someone who’s skilled, who has some experience.”

Neuhardt, an attorney from Yellow Springs, lost a Congressional race to Steve Austria in 2008, but had high hopes this time. National Democratic groups put her on a list of races to watch, and her campaign focused on job losses the area suffered while Turner was in office. Tuesday night, she criticized Turner again, saying he “needs to stand up for the middle class and stop putting partisan politics ahead of what’s best for the Miami Valley.”

“We’re incredibly proud of the campaign we ran,” Neuhardt said. “We had truly fantastic volunteers who contacted more than 100,000 voters. While this certainly isn’t the outcome we had hoped for, we’re so proud of the support we received.”

Turner said in his sixth term, his focus will be defending Wright-Patterson Air Force Base “through what’s going to be a difficult budget and perhaps a new (base realignment) review,” and reining in “out-of-control federal spending “while protecting defense.

Chabot wins 1st district

Steve Chabot, a longtime Cincinnati-area Congressman, defeated Democrat Jeff Sinnard and two others in the redrawn 1st District, which will include Warren County.

Chabot said he’s getting to know Warren County voters, adding that many of them voice common concerns about jobs and government spending.

“I don’t think you should ever compromise on your principles, but there are ways that reasonable minds can come to reasonable agreement; there can be give on both sides,” Chabot said. “I don’t think historically when we’ve raised taxes, there’s been nearly enough give on spending. I think spending is the main problem.”

Jordan wins easily

Jim Jordan won his fourth term representing Ohio’s 4th Congressional district, which includes Champaign and Shelby counties and areas to the north. He defeated Democrat Jim Slone and Libertarian Chris Kalla.