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WARREN -- State Rep. Mike Loychik, who was facing a challenger in the Republican primary for reelection, instead has filed to run for state senator -- pitting him against Sandra O'Brien, the GOP incumbent.
Loychik, R-Bazetta, serving his second two-year term in the Ohio House, turned in petitions Monday at the Trumbull County Board of Elections to run for the 32nd Ohio Senate District seat. O'Brien, R-Lenox, serving her first four-year term in the state Senate, also filed her petitions Monday with the board of elections.
In a prepared statement, Loychik wrote: "I'm tired of sitting on the sidelines and seeing a lack of representation in the 32nd State Senate District. As your state representative, I have championed bills to protect the Second Amendment, provide transparency in our schools and provide for economic growth. I want to bring our district together and fight for an America first, Ohio first agenda."
O'Brien declined to comment Monday on Loychik's filing.
But she said she has been an extremely effective legislator, "bringing back as much state tax dollars to the district as I could."
O'Brien said she has accomplished a lot in her first three years in office, adding she is proud she was able to convince her fellow Republican state senators to restore $3 million to the state budget to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport that is being used to leverage greater federal dollars for needed improvements.
O'Brien also pointed to getting the Ohio Department of Transportation to permit the Trumbull County Engineer's Office to use recycled asphalt grindings to resurface the county fairgrounds. The county fairgrounds used 5,000 tons of recycled asphalt grindings that were milled off area highways and created new paved roads throughout the fairgrounds.
"I'm so pleased with all of my accomplishments and look forward to more," O'Brien said.
The Senate district includes all of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties and most of Geauga County. It is a safe Republican district, favoring that party by about 10.5%, according to partisan statewide voting trends during the past decade.
No Democrat had filed for the seat as of Monday.
Wednesday is the filing deadline for candidates running in the March 19 primary.
If Loychik had sought reelection, he faced a challenge in the GOP primary from Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas, R-Jefferson.
Thomas already filed for the 65th Ohio House District seat. The district includes parts of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties and favors Republicans by about 14.5%, according to partisan statewide voting trends during the past decade.
During a redistricting effort in September, more of Ashtabula County was added to the 65th.
Asked about Loychik's decision, Thomas said: "This is a big blessing. I'm really humbled to have such strong support across the district in both counties. This is a good indication that the work we've done over the past two months since I announced is paying off."
Thomas said he hasn't spoken to Loychik for months so he doesn't know why the incumbent decided to run for the state Senate rather than face him. Thomas said he heard Loychik had a poll done and "maybe this is an indication of the results."
Thomas said he is backing O'Brien in the primary, saying she is "an excellent state senator."
Thomas, first elected Ashtabula County auditor in 2018, said O'Brien, who served in that same position for 12 years, is "a mentor to me and has been a big help to our office since she was state senator."
Loychik was supposed to speak Monday at a Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber "Lattes with Legislators" event at the Trumbull County Career and Technical Center. It was canceled "due to an unforeseen, out-of-town commitment" and won't be rescheduled, according to a chamber email. But Loychik was in the county Monday filing his nominating petitions. The event initially was scheduled for Dec. 11 and then postponed a week before being canceled.