BOARDMAN – Improving the lives of working families will be a top priority if Sen. Michael Rulli is elected to represent the 6th Congressional District.

Rulli, R-Salem, made that vow at a press conference Monday morning at Mahoning County Republican Party headquarters where he announced his bid to succeed U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson.

Johnson, R-Marietta, announced he will step down early in the new year to become president of Youngstown State University.

“Look at the last four years,” Rulli said to the crowd. “Are you better off?”

The question garnered applause and cheers from the crowd, with one man shouting, “Hell no!”

Rulli, who is serving a second four-year term in the Ohio Senate, cited “Bidenomics,” or President Joe Biden’s plan for the economy, as a failure, saying inflation is out of control, along with food and gas prices.

“They are literally killing our people from within,” he said, without specifying who he was referring to. “They are changing how we’re living and it has to stop.”

Rulli has the blessings of Mahoning County Republican Party Chairman Tom McCabe and Columbiana County Republican Party Chairman Dave Johnson.

Dave Johnson introduced Rulli to the crowd Monday, saying the two have known each other 20 years and that Rulli has the personality and charisma to represent the area in Washington, D.C.

“He’s distinguished himself as a leader,” Dave Johnson said, adding that Rulli won 67% of the district in his last Senate bid.

Dave Johnson called Rulli an “America-first, Trump conservative,” and said the congressional district includes communities extending down the Ohio River.

“This is Trump country,” he added.

Rulli acknowledged he hopes to see former president Donald Trump back in office and said he will do what he can to make that happen.

“It’s about the working families of our district,” he added.

Denny Zimmet, the Republican precinct committee chairperson for Beaver Township, dressed as Santa for the event and said he attended as a show of support for Rulli, who he said works hard for the people.

“He digs right in.” Zimmet said. “There’s no doubt about it.”

Rulli, of Columbiana, is still involved in his family’s grocery business, acting as general manager.

If elected, he said his first order of business will be to figure out on which committees he can serve. “I’d love to get on the energy committee,” he said, explaining he’d like to entice more natural gas companies to the area.

The 6th Congressional District includes all of Mahoning, Columbiana, Carroll, Jefferson, Belmont, Harrison, Monroe, Noble and Washington counties, as well as parts of Stark and Tuscarawas counties.

Mahoning is the most populous of those counties.

The deadline to file for the March 19, 2024, primary is Dec. 20.

A special primary and general election are needed to fill Johnson’s seat, meaning the district could be without representation for several months.

Both would be scheduled by Gov. Mike DeWine after Bill Johnson’s formal resignation, which could come early in the new year.

Bill Johnson is in his seventh term representing the district and was chosen Nov. 21 to replace former Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel, who retired Feb. 1.

The announcement has sparked controversy among some faculty, students, alumni and donors for lack of transparency in the board’s hiring process.

Rulli said he’s received more than 500 calls about running since Bill Johnson announced he would be stepping down.

“YSU is going to be fine,” Rulli said. “He’s excited for the challenge, and he’s going to have my support.”

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