The Republican race for Ohio House Speaker is starting again after the caucus decided to oust Representative Larry Householder, who had held the position since 2019. Republicans will now try to find a new leader who can help unify the caucus and provide leadership to help the party expand its dominance in the General Assembly.
Former Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, who resigned in 2018 amid an FBI investigation, has expressed interest in running again for the top job. Other potential contenders for the job include Republican Representatives Jim Butler and Bill Seitz, both of whom are experienced legislators with strong ties to the conservative base of the party.
The decision to oust Householder came after months of turmoil in the Ohio House, where a series of controversial bills, including a freeze on clean energy standards, were blocked and opposed by Householder. Householder’s conservative allies were also blamed for infighting among the Republican caucus.
Despite Householder’s ouster, it is unclear if the new Speaker will shift the party’s policy agenda to the right. With a Republican majority in both chambers of the legislature and an incoming governor from the same party, whoever becomes Speaker is likely to be a powerful voice for the GOP in the state.
