In a surprise, Ohio House picks Stephens as next speaker

In a surprise move, state lawmakers on Tuesday picked Republican Jason Stephens to lead the Ohio House over state Rep. Derek Merrin.

Last month, Merrin, R-Monclova, had won the support of Republicans but the official vote turned out differently. Stephens had 54 votes. Merrin had 43.

State Rep. Brett Hillyer, R-Ulrichsville, said Stephens would listen to everyone and unite factions.

Republicans control 67 seats in the House. In the last few months, the behindthe-scenes fight for control of the House chamber has been topsy-turvy, with at least three Republicans contending for speaker.

The speaker is one of the most powerful posts in state government. He or she has the ability to block or move any bill, make committee assignments and sway state spending and policy.

In January 2019, Perry County Republican Larry Householder won the speaker’s post votes from 26 Republicans and 26 Democrats. With support from Democrats, Householder edged out his rival, Ryan Smith, of Gallia County.

Householder, who served as speaker from 2001 to 2004 and 2019 to July 2020, is scheduled to go on trial in U.S. District Court later this month. Prosecutors allege he ran a criminal enterprise that took $61 million in bribes through dark money groups in exchange for legislation.

Householder and his co-defendant Matt Borges, former chair of the Ohio Republican Party, have both pleaded not guilty.

After his arrest in July 2020, Householder was stripped of his speaker post, but it wasn’t until June 2021 that his colleagues voted 75-21 to expel him from the Ohio House.