COLUMBUS, Ohio — With Ohio U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson set to resign in order to take the job as president of Youngstown State University, Gov. Mike DeWine has officially set a special election to finish the remainder of his term in Congress.
Johnson has announced his intent to step down from his 6th Congressional District seat on Jan. 21, setting him up to become YSU's new leader the very next day. In a writ of election issued Thursday, DeWine called for a special primary to be held on March 19, followed by the general election on June 11.
The primary is scheduled to take place on the same day as Ohio's previously scheduled 2024 primary, which will feature Democratic and Republican candidates not just for the state's congressional races but for the U.S. presidency, as well. However, the special election for Johnson's seat will only apply to the rest of his current term slated to end in January of 2025, meaning technically a separate race will have to be held to fill the next full two-year term running from 2025-27.
While nothing has been fully confirmed by the secretary of state's office, it stands to reason that there could be two primaries for the 6th District on the March ballot — one for the special election and one for the regular election. The special general election would then take place in June, followed by the normal general election on Nov. 5.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose released a statement Thursday pledging his team would be able to handle the extra load:
"The election schedule set by Governor DeWine will ensure Ohio can promptly fill this vacancy with minimum disruption both to local boards of elections and to the voters of the 6th Congressional District. Given the extraordinary demands placed on our boards of elections in a presidential year, a special election presents a challenge, but one that I am confident our hardworking elections officials will meet."
The 6th Congressional District hugs the eastern part of the state that borders the Ohio River, and includes all of Carroll County as well as portions of Stark and Tuscarawas counties. It is considered to be a safe seat for Republicans, with Johnson regaining it from the Democrats with his initial election in 2010 and winning his last race in 2022 with 67% of the vote.
Even though a new filing deadline of Jan. 19 has been set for potential candidates in the special election, five people have already been certified to run in the 6th District's regular primary (they would technically have to re-file to take part in the special election). They are:
Republicans
- State Sen. Michael Rulli (R-Salem)
- State Rep. Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Paris Township)
- Rick Tsai, chiropractor
Democrats
- Rylan Finzer, marijuana dispensary owner
- Michael Kripchak
It was last November when Johnson accepted YSU's offer to succeed the retired Jim Tressel as YSU's full-time president. Despite a long career in both Congress as well as the U.S Air Force, the 69-year-old's hiring has been met with some backlash from students and faculty, not just for his conservative political views but also for his lack of higher education experience as well as the university's decision to conduct its presidential search in relative secrecy.
"I know some have questioned my professional and educational experience," Johnson acknowledged at his introductory press conference. "As president, my history in politics will not be reflected in the decisions I make for YSU and the students of YSU."
According to LaRose, citizens wishing to vote in the March 19 primary must be registered by Feb. 20, with early voting beginning the next day. The registration deadline for the June 11 special election is May 13.