New polling data for the Dec. 11 special election to replace the late Rep. Paul Gillmor (R) showed Republican nominee Bob Latta leading by double digits over Democrat Robin Weirauch, 50 percent to 36 percent.

The poll, taken by Latta’s polling firm Public Opinion Strategies, surveyed 350 likely voters on Nov. 11-12 and had a margin of error of 5.24 points.

Latta, a former state Representative, emerged from a contested Republican primary that he won with a margin of four points. He is the son of former Rep. Del Latta (R), who held the district before Gillmor.

Weirauch also was the 2004 and 2006 Democratic nominee in the district, losing to Gillmor by 34 points and 14 points in those years, respectively.

The poll also showed the generic Republican candidate winning the district 45 percent to 37 percent. The seat is considered safe for Republicans, but a notably nasty primary and recent Democratic gains in Ohio had given Democrats some hope of being competitive in the district.

— Shira Toeplitz