House swears in Ohio Republican after close special election

Rep. Michael Rulli (R-Ohio) was sworn into the House on Tuesday, after he fended off a Democratic opponent in an unexpectedly close special election to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio).

Rulli, who previously served in the Ohio state senate, bested Democrat Michael Kripchak to represent the Buckeye State’s 6th congressional district earlier this month in a race that was closer than expected after Democrats overperformed in the ruby-red area.

Rulli beat Kripchak by just 9.4 percentage points, though the district broke for former President Trump over President Biden by 28.7 percentage points in 2020. Dave Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, attributed the close outcome to “abysmal” turnout in a post on X.

The addition of Rulli to the House Republican conference will not change the GOP’s slim majority in the lower chamber: they can still only afford to lose two votes on any party-line measures, assuming full attendance.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) administered the oath of office to Rulli on the House floor Tuesday evening, as the new congressman was surrounded by members of the Ohio congressional district.

“The United States of America’s history isn’t perfect but we try to correct ourself. I think the American Civil War really showed that. And we’re still working on it, we’re not there yet, and I cannot believe that my God creator gave me this opportunity to join all of you, all of you, the whole body that is present,” Rilli said during a speech on the House floor after his swearing in.

Johnson said Rilli “has a strong, conservative background and a long record of dedicated public service, and he will immediately become an asset to our Conference.” “We are glad to have him join the team,” he added.

Bill Johnson, who had served in the House since 2011, announced in November that he would not seek election for an eighth term after taking a job to lead Youngstown State University. In January, however, he expedited his timeline, resigning from his seat early and shrinking the House GOP’s majority.

Rulli and Kripchak will face each other once again in November, when they vie for a full term representing Ohio’s 6th congressional district. Decision Desk HQ/The Hill projects that Rulli has upwards of a 99 percent chance of winning the race.