 Despite a redistricting period controlled by the opposing party where three Democratic State House incumbent seats were eliminated, Ohio Democrats also won races that were supposed to be out of reach, and overcame a 3-1 financial disadvantage and for the first time in 12 years, Democrats won a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court.Redfern attended Bowling Green State University where he earned both a bachelor's degree and then his master's degree in state and local government.He received the BGSU Accomplished Graduate Award in 2004.