It was a busy election season for the OOA and Key ODs attending numerous fundraisers to support candidates that support Ohio Optometry.  PAC dollars were well spent as many of the candidates that the OOA and members supported were elected and additionally placed into leadership positions. These relationships will be critical for scope modernization and children’s vision initiatives as we look toward the new general assembly beginning January 1, 2025.   

Ohio Voting Statistics 

• There were 5,644,642 votes cast out of 8,159,946 people registered to vote (69%) 

• 100% of Ohio’s 8,878 precincts have reported their vote totals 

Ohio House 

Prior to the election, Republicans in the Ohio House held a 67-32 advantage, but House Democrats were able to flip two seats to reduce that majority to 65-34. The two Democratic gains came in the following districts: 

• In the House 10th District, Democrat Mark Segrist defeated Republican Brian Glavine. 

• In the House 11th District, Democrat Crystal Lett defeated Republican Stephanie Kunze (Kunze was a State Senator running for this House seat). 

The House Republicans selected their next speaker last evening. Current House Speaker, Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) withdrew from the speaker race earlier in the week. That left current Senate President, Matt Huffman (R-Lima) poised to be the front runner in the bid for speakership.  He was unanimously elected to the speaker position.  Huffman won't be named speaker officially until January, when the 99-member Ohio House of Representatives votes on its next leader.   

Huffman's leadership team for the 136th General Assembly includes: Rep. Gayle Manning (R-N. Ridgeville) as speaker pro tem, Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) as assistant speaker pro tem, Rep. Marylin John (R-Shelby) as majority leader, Rep. Adam Bird (R-Cincinnati) as assistant majority leader. 

Huffman named four lawmakers to serve as majority whips: Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.), Rep. Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky), Rep Nick Santucci (R-Howland Twp.), and Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.). 

Ohio Senate  

Prior to the election, Republicans had a huge 26-7 advantage in the Ohio Senate, but Democrats were able to flip two Senate seats to reduce that margin to 24-9. Democrat Beth Liston won the 16th Senate District seat that is currently held by Republican Stephanie Kunze (who ran for the Ohio House) while Democrat Willis Blackshear (who is currently a member of the Ohio House) won the open 6th District seat, as Republican incumbent Niraj Antani chose not to seek re-election. 

Both parties in the Senate will also have new members who will be replacing several term limited incumbents. Those new Senate members include:  

• Republican Kyle Koehler (replacing Bob Hackett in the 10th District) 

• Republican Susan Manchester (replacing Matt Huffman in the 12th District) 

• Republican Tom Patton (replacing Matt Dolan in the 24th District) 

• Democrat Casey Weinstein (replacing Vernon Sykes in the 28th district) 

On Wednesday, Senator Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) was selected as the next Senate President starting January 6th. Rounding out the remainder of the incoming Senate GOP leadership team is Senator Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) as president pro tempore, Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) as majority floor leader and Senator George Lang (R-West Chester Twp.) as majority whip. 

Senate Democrats on Tuesday formalized their own leadership slates. Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) was re-elected as minority leader; Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), assistant minority leader; Sen. Kent Smith (D-Euclid), minority whip. Senator-elect Rep. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) was picked for assistant minority whip over current titleholder Senator Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati). 

The legislators have returned to Columbus for the lame duck session. As expected, SB 129 is not expected to have any further hearings as the 135th assembly comes to a close. The OOA looks forward to re-entering the bill in the next general assembly and moving through the committee process in 2025. Children’s vision recommendations that result from the work of the Strike Force are also expected to be evaluated by the Governor’s Health Care Policy team in the months to come. Funding mechanisms for the Ohio Optometric Foundation’s iSEE program could also be presented in the next budget cycle. The OOA Board of Directors, Key ODs, and leaders are ready to work with the next general assembly on these issues and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional vision and medical eye care for all Ohioans.