Ohio State Government

 

Executive Branch

 

Ohio's Governor is the executive head of state. When the Ohio General Assembly (see below) passes legislation, the governor signs it into law, or has the authority to veto the legislation.

 

Our current governor, Mike DeWine was first elected in 2018, and reelected in 2022. He will be up for reelection in 2018. The executive branch also consists of the Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, Attorney General Mike DeWine, Secretary of State John Husted, State Auditor Dave Yost, and State Treasurer Josh Mandel. All will be up for reelection in 2018.

 

Legislative Branch

 

The Ohio General Assembly is the legislative branch, which makes the laws. It consists of the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate. The Ohio House of Representatives is comprised of 99 representatives from districts based on population. Hamilton is in the 51st district, currently represented by Wes Retherford, who is up for reelection in November 2016. If you don't live in Hamilton, you can look up your representative here. You will need the 4-digit extension of your zip code, which you can find here.

 

The Ohio Senate consists of 33 districts, each of which includes 3 of the representatives' districts. Hamilton is in District 4, currently represented by Bill Coley, who is up for reelection in November 2016. If you don't live in Hamilton, you can look up your senator here. Again, you will need your 4-digit zip code extension. 

 

Judicial Branch

 

 

The Ohio Supreme Court is the judicial branch of state government. It is composed of one Chief Justice and six associate justices, who are elected to six year terms. In November 2016, the seats up for election are as follows: 

• Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor (running unopposed)

• Justice Judith Ann Lanzinger's seat (she has reached mandatory retirement age). The election for her seat will be between Republican Judge Colleen O'Toole (​Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals) and Democrat Judge John P. O'Donnell (Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas).

• Justice Paul Pfeifer's seat (he has also reached mandatory retirement age). This election will be between Republican Judge Pat DeWine (Ohio First District Court of Appeals) and Democrat Judge Cynthia Rice (Ohio Eleventh District Court of Appeals).

 

The remaining justices are Justice Terrence O'Donnell (Republican, term ending 2018), Justice William O'Neil (Democrat, term ending 2018), Justice Sharon Kennedy (Republican, term ending 2020), and Justice Judith French (Republican, term ending 2021).