![Dennis Kucinich and running mate Tara Samples address supporters on election night. [Nick Castele / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/739a59d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1000x562+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F5%2F09%2F0508kucinichsamples.jpg)
Democrats didn鈥檛 have to wait long to learn who鈥檇 be their gubernatorial nominee in November.
Fifty-six minutes after the polls closed, the Associated Press called the race for Richard Cordray, the former head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Cordray beat former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich by double digits, taking 62 percent of the vote to Kucinich鈥檚 23 percent.
At a downtown election night party, the former congressman from Cleveland accepted defeat and congratulated Cordray. But Kucinich said he and his supporters were engaged in a cause larger than one campaign.
鈥淲e move forward in the interests of the people of Ohio and in the interests of the people all across the country who want Democrats to stand for Medicare for all, universal, single-payer, not-for-profit healthcare,鈥� Kucinich said.
He said people want the party to fight for a host of progressive priorities, from a $15 minimum wage to two years of free college.
鈥淎nd I am convinced, in talking to people across this state, that people want Democrats who will stand for safer neighborhoods, and who will stand for getting rid of these assault weapons once and for all,鈥� he said.
His running mate, Akron City Councilwoman Tara Samples, addressed a message to young supporters.
鈥淎s you advocate for change in your communities and your neighborhoods, we will be right there with you,鈥� Samples said. 鈥淭his is not a loss. I need you all to understand that. This is bigger than just Dennis and I. This is about you all.鈥�
This fall, Cordray will face the winner of the Republican primary, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
