The Ohio Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly. The State Senate, which meets in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, first convened in 1803. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such that half of the seats are contested at each election.[1] Even numbered seats and odd numbered seats are contested in separate election years. The president of the Ohio Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Matt Huffman.

Ohio Senate
135th Ohio General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
2 terms (8 years)
History
New session started
January 3, 2023
Leadership
Matt Huffman (R)
since January 4, 2021
President pro tempore
Kirk Schuring (R)
since January 3, 2023
Majority Leader
Rob McColley (R)
since January 3, 2023
Minority Leader
Nickie Antonio (D)
since January 3, 2023
Structure
Seats33
Layout of Ohio
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (26)

Minority

Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle II, Ohio Constitution
Salary$68,674/year
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(17 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(16 seats)
Meeting place
Senate Chamber
Ohio Statehouse
Columbus, Ohio
Website
ohiosenate.gov

Currently, the Senate consists of 26 Republicans and 7 Democrats, with the Republicans controlling three more seats than the 22 required for a supermajority vote. Senators are limited to two consecutive terms. Each senator represents approximately 349,000 Ohioans, and each Senate district encompasses three corresponding Ohio House of Representatives districts.

Composition

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135th General Assembly (2022-2023)
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total Vacant
Democratic Republican
End of previous Assembly 8 25 33 0
Begin (January 3, 2023) 7 26 33 0
December 1, 2023 25 32 1
December 6, 2023 26 33 0
June 12, 2024[2] 25 32 1
June 26, 2024 26 33 0
Latest voting share 21.2% 78.8%

Leadership

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Presiding
President of the Senate Matt Huffman
President Pro Tempore Kirk Schuring
Majority Leadership
Majority Floor Leader Rob McColley
Majority Whip Theresa Gavarone
Minority Leadership
Minority Leader Nickie Antonio
Assistant Minority Leader Hearcel Craig
Minority Whip Kent Smith
Assistant Minority Whip Paula Hicks-Hudson

Other Officers

Clerk: According to the Rules of the Senate, the clerk is elected by the members of the Senate and is tasked with maintaining records of all Senate bills and resolutions. The clerk is also responsible for handling all documents received from other government departments.[3]

Members of the 135th Senate

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Senate districts by party
  Democratic
  Republican
District Senator Party Residence Counties represented Term Limited First Elected
1 Rob McColley Republican Napoleon Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Logan, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams 2026 2017*
2 Theresa Gavarone Republican Bowling Green Erie, Huron, Lucas, Ottawa, Wood 2028 2019*
3 Michele Reynolds Republican Canal Winchester Franklin, Madison, Pickaway 2030 2022
4 George Lang Republican West Chester Butler 2028 2020
5 Steve Huffman Republican Tipp City Butler, Darke, Miami, Montgomery, Preble 2026 2018
6 Niraj Antani Republican Miamisburg Montgomery 2028 2020
7 Steve Wilson Republican Maineville Hamilton, Warren 2026 2017*
8 Louis Blessing Republican Colerain Township Hamilton 2028 2019*
9 Catherine Ingram Democratic Cincinnati Hamilton 2030 2022
10 Bob Hackett Republican London Clinton, Clark, Greene 2024 2016*
11 Paula Hicks-Hudson Democratic Toledo Lucas 2030 2022
12 Matt Huffman Republican Lima Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Darke, Logan, Mercer, Shelby 2024 2016
13 Nathan Manning Republican North Ridgeville Huron, Lorain 2026 2018
14 Terry Johnson Republican McDermott Adams, Brown, Clermont, Scioto 2028 2019*
15 Hearcel Craig Democratic Columbus Franklin 2026 2018
16 Stephanie Kunze Republican Columbus Franklin 2024 2016
17 Shane Wilkin Republican Jasper Township Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Lawrence, Vinton 2030 2022
18 Jerry Cirino Republican Kirtland Cuyahoga, Lake 2028 2020
19 Andrew Brenner Republican Powell Coshocton, Delaware, Holmes, Knox 2026 2018
20 Tim Schaffer Republican Lancaster Fairfield, Licking, Perry 2028 2018*
21 Kent Smith Democratic Cleveland Cuyahoga 2030 2022
22 Mark Romanchuk Republican Ontario Ashland, Medina, Richland 2028 2020
23 Nickie Antonio Democratic Lakewood Cuyahoga 2026 2018
24 Matt Dolan Republican Chagrin Falls Cuyahoga 2024 2016
25 Bill DeMora Democratic Columbus Franklin 2030 2022
26 Bill Reineke Republican Eden Township Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Sandusky, Seneca, Union, Wyandot 2028 2020
27 Kristina Roegner Republican Hudson Geauga, Portage, Summit 2026 2018
28 Vernon Sykes Democratic Akron Summit 2024 2016
29 Kirk Schuring Republican Canton Stark 2026 2018
30 Brian Chavez Republican Marietta Athens, Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Vinton, Washington 2032 2023*
31 Al Landis Republican Dover Guernsey, Muskingum, Stark, Tuscarawas, Wayne 2030 2022
32 Sandra O'Brien Republican Lenox Township Ashtabula, Geauga, Trumbull 2028 2020
33 Alessandro Cutrona Republican Canfield Carroll, Columbiana, Mahoning 2032 2024*
*Senator was originally appointed

Past composition of the Senate

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References

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  1. ^ Article II, section 2, Ohio Constitution.
  2. ^ "Rulli Wins Special Election for Ohio 6th District House Seat Vacated by Johnson". theintelligencer.com.
  3. ^ "Rules of the Senate | The Ohio Legislature". www.legislature.ohio.gov. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
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