Majority Republicans in their caucus have chosen a new leader but Matt Huffman needs no introduction. He's currently serving as the president of the Ohio Senate. When he comes over to the Ohio House in January, he will likely lead that chamber as the speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles explains Huffman will take over the position now held by Speaker Jason Stephens. He dropped out for consideration for re-election last week, paving the way for Huffman. So what does this all mean? To help answer that question, Ohio Statehouse Media Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson joined Jo to talk about that. Plus Jo reports there are questions about where the Republican who ran for a state senate seat recently got his money for his failed campaign. There is bipartisan legislation to raise awareness for perinatal mental health issues. And we prepare to say goodbye to longtime Ohio lawmaker, Kirk Schuring who died last week.

After months of campaigning, the Ohio Legislature returned to the Ohio Statehouse this week. The first thing lawmakers did when they got there was to pass a controversial bill that requires students to use bathrooms that correspond with the gender listed on their birth certificates. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports this week, majority Republicans in the Ohio House and Senate will choose who will guide them in the next General Assembly. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson also join in to talk about legislation that could be coming soon in the Lame Duck session of this legislature. And former Ohio House Speaker, Larry Householder, who is serving 20 years in prison on corruption charges, is asking President-elect Donald Trump to grant him clemency.

The election is over and former President Donald Trump was even more popular with Ohioans than any other time he's been on the ballot. Trump won the Buckeye State by 12 points (according to unofficial numbers). And that red wave washed away long-time U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, the defacto leader of the state's Democrats. So what does this all mean? In this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop, host Jo Ingles is joined by Brianna Mack, assistant professor of politics and government at Ohio Wesleyan University, and Paul Beck, professor emeritus of political science at Ohio State University to talk about the message voters sent. And Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to talk about the effects this election could have on the Ohio Legislature.

In this podcast, Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks to Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson about the political landscape in the Buckeye State going into Election Day and the final pitch candidates are making. We remember former Ohio House Speaker JoAnn Davidson, the first and only woman to serve in that role, as she was laid to rest this past week. And a new bill at the Statehouse would allow more political signs to be put up in Ohio, even in areas where homeowner's associations now prohibit them. You'll find all of this and more in this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

This week is the final full week of early voting leading up to the November 5 election. Ohio Statehouse Scoop host Jo Ingles reports on voter confusion over Issue 1. She is joined by reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler to talk about what's behind the enormous number of challenges of voter registrations at local boards of elections and discuss efforts by the state to bring charges of wrongdoing by a handful of voters, including one voter who passed away two years ago. Plus a judge has ruled Ohio's six-week abortion ban is unconstitutional but the state could appeal some parts of that law. And we remember JoAnn Davidson, the first and only woman to lead the Ohio House of Representatives.

With less than two weeks to go of early voting for the November election, it appears Ohio's U.S.Senate race is tight. So is the contest to pass Issue 1, the amendment on the ballot that would change the process for redistricting. Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles talks with Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson about what's on the ballot and what's at stake in this election.

Ohioans are going to the polls and casting ballots early. Voting began on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The stakes in this election are high. Not only is it an historic presidential race but Ohioans will also determine whether U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown will keep his seat or whether they want to send newcomer, Republican Bernie Moreno. The race is being closely watched nationally because it could determine the balance of the U.S. Senate. But the stakes are just as high, and maybe even higher, with Ohio Supreme Court races. The outcome of those will likely determine how the Reproductive Rights Amendment passed by voters in 2023 is applied and decide which abortion laws will remain on the books in Ohio. And there's Issue 1 - the fight to end gerrymandering by removing politicians from the process of drawing district lines. Host Jo Ingles has more on all of these hot issues. And she's joined by Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson to discuss details about this election. It's all here on this week's Ohio Statehouse Scoop.

The 2023 Ohio Abortion Report is out and Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports on its details, including who is getting abortions in Ohio and at what point. She's joined by Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler to talk about the vice presidential debate, the value of endorsements and more.

Haitian immigrants living in Springfield are fighting back against top Republican candidates, blaming them for problems their community has experienced in recent weeks. Ohio Democrats are fighting back after the Ohio Ballot Board adopted a controversial summary for Issue 1, the proposed redistricting amendment. And Ohio voters are reacting to disputatious comments by U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno as he battles to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown.

What effect are these fights having on voters? In this podcast, Ohio Statehouse Scoop Host Jo Ingles reports what's happening and what's at stake. Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler and Reporter Sarah Donaldson join Jo to discuss the latest news in politics and government at the Ohio Statehouse.

Controversy over immigration continues in Springfield as Republicans make their pilgrimage there to talk politics and those at the top of the ticket still refer to the Southwest Ohio city as an example of the problem with immigration. And there's controversy at the Ohio Statehouse as a Republican-dominated panel that decides language for ballot issues adopts wording that angers backers of a proposed constitutional amendment to change the redistricting process. Ohio Statehouse Scoop host Jo Ingles has more on those stories. And Ohio Public Media Statehouse News Bureau Reporter Sarah Donaldson and Bureau Chief Karen Kasler weigh in with their thoughts on those issues.