About the timing of Johnson’s resignation

January 4, 2024

The initial plan for U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson was to resign from Congress in February or early March and start March 15 as Youngstown State University president. But ever since Johnson’s controversial hiring Nov. 21 by the YSU board of trustees, Michael Peterson, the board’s president, has made it clear that he and the board wanted the Republican congressman to lead the university sooner than that. Johnson submitted his resignation letters Tuesday to Gov. Mike DeWine and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, stating he would leave Congress Jan. 21. He starts the next day at ...

Sizing up Valley’s state races

December 29, 2023

State legislative redistricting likely removed the competitiveness in most of the Ohio House and Senate races in the Mahoning Valley for the November 2024 election. But the Valley will have two contested Republican primaries March 19, including one that pits two incumbents against each other. That particular primary is for the GOP nomination in the 32nd Ohio Senate District, which includes all of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties and most of Geauga County. Incumbent state Sen. Sandra O’Brien of Lenox faces state Rep. Mike Loychik of Bazetta. The winner will run against Democrat ...

Primary draws interesting filings

December 22, 2023

There were a number of interesting filings in Mahoning and Trumbull counties for the March 19, 2024, primary as well as some noted races in which a political party opted not to field a candidate. An open congressional seat usually attracts a lot of candidates. But, only three Republicans and two Democrats filed for the position that U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson will relinquish to become Youngstown State University president. Johnson, a Republican who just relocated from Marietta to Canfield, will resign by early March. The 6th Congressional District favors Republicans by 18% based on ...

Loychik’s Second Amendment bill stalls

December 15, 2023

Despite opposition from police chiefs and county prosecutors organizations, a bill sponsored by state Rep. Mike Loychik to prohibit local and state law enforcement from enforcing federal firearms laws or regulations looked like it was going to pass the Ohio House this month. That was the consensus a few weeks ago. But things have significantly changed since then, and the bill finds itself in limbo largely because some of Loychik’s fellow Republicans have concerns about it. Called the Second Amendment Preservation Act, the bill was approved Nov. 15 along party lines by the Ohio ...

Not-close races questioned

December 8, 2023

Two Mahoning Valley political candidates who lost their elections — one by 48.8% and the other by 10.28% — are raising questions about the outcomes. By disputing the elections’ validity, despite double-digit defeats, the local candidates are reflecting what we’ve seen nationwide since Donald Trump filed dozens of unsuccessful lawsuits and used other failed tactics after losing the 2020 presidential election. While every candidate has the right to challenge election outcomes to their fullest extent, these attempts seem like efforts to shake trust in the process. In one case, ...

The race is on to replace Bill Johnson in Congress

December 1, 2023

U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson’s plan to resign his House seat in February or early March to become Youngstown State University president would open a safe Republican seat for which state Sen. Michael Rulli is seen as an early favorite. Rulli, R-Salem, filed a declaration of candidacy and created a campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission, which allows him to start raising money for the race. Rulli said Thursday he is scheduling a date and time for an official announcement. Dec. 20 is the deadline for candidates to file for the full two-year position on the March 19, 2024, ...