U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise will deliver the keynote address at the Columbiana County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner on Thursday.

Scalise, a Louisiana Republican and the House Republicans’ second-ranking member, will be introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Salem, whose district includes Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

Also, other Republican members of Congress, Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy, state Supreme Court Justice Dan Hawkins, and statewide officeholders and candidates will attend the event.

The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Salem with a private fundraising reception in Hanoverton at 5 p.m.

Party Chairman Dave Johnson said because of security protocols in place for Scalise, the specific locations for the events will only be provided to those who make reservations by calling 330-223-1551 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Johnson said: “It’s not often you have the second-ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives in rural Ohio, particularly at such an important — even vital — campaign cycle as we have before us.”

Johnson said Scalise’s appearance is also in recognition of Rulli, the first congressman elected from Columbiana County in 153 years. The last person elected from Columbiana County was Jacob Ambler of Salem in 1873.

The last majority leader to visit Columbiana County was Dick Armey, a Texas Republican, during the 1990s, Johnson said.

On June 14, 2017, during practice for that year’s Congressional Baseball Game, Scalise was shot and seriously wounded by an anti-Trump domestic terroristwho was targeting Republicans.

Scalise underwent treatment for several months, returning to Congress later that fall.