GOP infighting intensifies in OH as March primaries approach

• Ohio's Republican lawmakers, despite their dominance in the state Legislature, face challenges from within their own party this election season.
• The upcoming primaries are expected to intensify ongoing infighting that stemmed from the divisive race for House speaker in 2023.
• All 99 Ohio House seats and 16 Senate seats are up for grabs this election cycle.

Despite wielding power in both chambers of the state Legislature, Ohio's Republican lawmakers are far from spending this election season quietly as incumbents face challengers from their own party amid a bitter GOP power struggle.

Next month's primary will likely be used to further fuel infighting that has been ongoing in the state House since 2023, when a contentious House speaker race divided House Republicans. Although Republican lawmakers have supermajorities in both chambers, the Legislature last year managed to set a record for the fewest bills passed since the 1950s.

Democrats are deciding some contested primaries themselves, but even newly drawn House maps backed by both parties make it nearly impossible for them to win a majority in 2024.

MARCH 19 OHIO PRIMARY: EARLY VOTING BEGINS WEDNESDAY, REGISTRATION CLOSES TUESDAY

All 99 seats in the Ohio House of Representatives are up for grabs this year, as are 16 of the 33 seats in the Senate.

HOW ARE THESE FIGHTS AFFECTING THE ELECTION SEASON?

Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens won the presidency with the votes of 32 Democrats and 21 Republicans in the state House in January 2023. Nearly half of those Republicans will face opponents in the March 19 primary. .

The rival camp, which supported Rep. Derek Merrin, R-Monclova, for president, dubbed those Republicans and Stephens, who voted for himself, the “Blue 22.” Those 22 have since been censured by the Ohio Republican Party, and Merrin's contingent has been drumming up support for their rivals.

As House leader, Stephens has power over legislation that comes before the full chamber. He also controls more than $3 million in campaign funds for his group through the Ohio House Republican Alliance. Merrin and his supporters are trying to change that through an ongoing lawsuit that would wrest that control away.

And although Merrin is term-limited and Stephens is unopposed in the primary, the incumbent still has a fight ahead of him. Current Senate President Matt Huffman, who is also term-limited, is running for the House and does not face a primary opponent.

Huffman has openly touted his desire to be president if elected, which is likely due to the red nature of his Allen County district. The Lima Republican has also donated to incumbents in Merrin's camp, and some of Huffman's fellow conservative senators have publicly endorsed several of Stephens' supporters' rivals.

If Stephens' following dwindles, he might not keep the coveted speakership. For now, Stephens comfortably enjoys the alliance's millions and nearly $760,000 in his personal campaign account. Huffman's bill totals nearly $713,000.

WHAT OTHER PRIMARY BATTLES ARE ON THE HORIZON?

Hamilton County Republican Rep. Bill Seitz has decided not to seek re-election after a decades-long career in the Legislature. Competing for his seat are Democrats Stefanie Hawk and Daniel Voynovich, and lone Republican Mike Odioso, all from Cincinnati.

Former Republican Rep. Bob Young's seat in Summit County is also open following his resignation from the House last summer after he was convicted of domestic violence against his wife in October of last year. Jack Daniels, R-Akron, and Mary Stormer, R-New Franklin, will face off for the Republican nominations. Jim Colopy of Akron is the only Democrat running for that seat.

Incumbent Rep. Elliot Forhan is currently under investigation for alleged violent and erratic behavior toward lawmakers, state house staff, and constituents. He failed to gain the endorsement of the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party and has faced criticism from his community.

Forhan is widely expected not to win his district's primary and faces several challengers, including Cleveland-area Democrats Angel Washington and Eric Synenberg. Republican Joshua Malovasic is also running.

Rep. Dave Dobos, a Columbus-area conservative, announced earlier this year that he would not seek re-election. Dobos came under fire when it was revealed that he had never graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as he has claimed for decades and failed to disclose more than $1 million in debt as part of a business dispute in 2014.

GOP SENATE CANDIDATE ON STATE'S BATTLEFIELD AGAINST VULNERABLE DEM INCUMBENT: 'OUT OF TOUCH'

Three Democrats are vying for Dobos' seat: Ahmet Ali and Mark Sigrist, both of Grove City, and Sarah Pomeroy, of Columbus. Two Republicans, Shafi Ahmed of Columbus and Brian Garvine of Grove City, are also on the primary ballot.

While the House boasts some of the most closely watched elections this year, one Senate district has some eyes on it as it could give another seat to minority Democrats.

The Dayton-area district is now leaning more blue than in previous years after the bipartisan redrawing of the Capitol maps, making for a more exciting Democratic primary fight. Incumbent Republican Senator Niraj Antani is not seeking re-election and is instead running for Congress.

Up for the seat are Democrats Jyl Hall of Kettering and Jocelyn Rhynard of Dayton, as well as incumbent Rep. Willis Blackshear, also of Dayton. The only Republican on the primary ballot is Charlotte McGuire.