Former Ohio State wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez won election to the United States House of Representatives Tuesday night, winning Ohio's 16th congressional district.
Gonzalez, a Republican, collected 56.9% of the vote to defeat Democrat Susan Moran Palmer. In a statement released on his campaign website, the future congressman promised to put in work.
“My promise will never be to be perfect, but to always be honest, accessible, and tireless, in working on behalf of the constituents who I’m now honored to serve.”
The 16th district includes some communities of east Akron as well as a handful of suburbs west of Cleveland, home turf for Gonzalez, who grew up in Avon Lake before going on to star at Cleveland's St. Ignatius High School.
As a junior at Ohio State, Gonzalez hauled in 51 receptions for 734 yards and eight touchdowns for a Buckeye team that went 12–1 and spent most of the 2006 season ranked No. 1 in the country.
After earning first-team All-Big Ten that season, Gonzalez opted to declare for the NFL Draft where he was taken in the first round, 32nd overall by the Indianapolis Colts. He played five seasons in the NFL, all with the Colts.
This was Gonzalez' first political campaign.
