Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) was ahead in the five-way Democratic primary in the Cleveland-area 10th district Tuesday, according to early returns, leading his most prominent primary opponent, Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman, by a 2-1 margin. But results were trickling in slowly, and the final numbers were not expected to be tallied until dawn Wednesday.

The other Ohio incumbent who was considered vulnerable, Rep. Jean Schmidt (R), won her primary easily. She is expected to face a rematch with 2006 Democratic nominee Victoria Wulsin, who fell just 2,500 votes short of winning in the previous cycle.

Meanwhile, in the 16th district represented by retiring Rep. Ralph Regula (R), Ashland County Commissioner Matt Miller and state Sen. Kirk Schuring were essentially tied in the early Republican primary returns. The winner will face state Sen. John Boccieri (D) in what is expected to be a highly competitive general election.

In the nearby 18th district Republican primary, former state Agriculture Director Fred Dailey was leading the four-way field with sizable margins in the GOP contest to take on freshman Rep. Zack Space (D) this fall.

— Shira Toeplitz