Next Ohio Senate president has close ties to Champaign County
Matt Huffman chosen unanimously by fellow Republican legislators.
State Sen. Matt Huffman, whose district includes Champaign County, has been chosen as the next president of the Ohio Senate by his fellow Republicans, according to a release.
Huffman, who was the unanimous choice of Senate Republicans, is known as a solidly conservative lawmaker. A longtime champion of school vouchers, this year he has become a vocal proponent of lifting coronavirus closure orders for businesses and schools.
He also drew criticism in 2018 for making a vulgar joke about a woman candidate. He apologized for the remark, which drew no consequences.
Senate Republicans will enter next session with a supermajority, so their pick for Senate president is all but guaranteed to be elected when a leadership vote is held in January. State Sen. Stephanie Kunze, a suburban Columbus Republican whose re-election is still up in the air because of an extremely close race against Democrat Crystal Lett, was allowed to cast a ballot, according to a source who attended the vote.
“I appreciate the confidence my colleagues have placed in me,” Huffman said in a statement. “I have great respect for the diverse perspectives, experiences and knowledge every senator brings to the Statehouse and the heart with which they serve the Ohioans they represent. Our caucus is committed to helping our state recover from a turbulent year and to pursuing pathways to growth and success for all of Ohio’s families and communities. I look forward to the work ahead.”
Huffman, of Lima, had been seen as the likely choice to succeed outgoing Senate President Larry Obhof, a term-limited Medina Republican, since he was elected Senate majority whip in 2018. He was elected majority floor leader the following year.
Before his election to the Senate in 2016, Huffman served four terms in the Ohio House, where he was elected majority floor leader and speaker pro tempore.
Huffman’s district also includes Allen, Mercer and Shelby and parts of Auglaize, Darke and Logan counties.
Besides Huffman, Senate
Republicans promoted Senate Majority Whip Jay Hottinger of Newark to president pro tempore. State Sen. Kirk Schuring of Canton was elected majority floor leader, while state Sen. Rob McColley of Napoleon was named majority whip.
Senate Democrats aren’t planning to hold their leadership election until the Kunze/ Lett race is decided.