Local news channel projects that Michael Rulli will win the Republican primaries for the regular election and the special election in Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, positioning him as the frontrunner to succeed former GOP Rep. Bill Johnson. Johnson recently left the deep-red seat to assume the role of president at Youngstown State University.
Rulli, a state senator hailing from the Youngstown area, garnered endorsements from key figures such as former Ohio GOP Chairwoman Jane Timken, Ohio Rep. David Joyce, and the US Chamber of Commerce. With these endorsements and the district's strong Republican leanings, Rulli is expected to have a significant advantage over Democrat Michael Kripchak in both the upcoming special election on June 11 and the November general election.
The special election winner will serve out the remainder of Johnson’s term through January 2025. This race is crucial for Republicans, given the narrow margin in the chamber that has sometimes hindered the advancement of legislative priorities.
In Ohio's 2nd District, businessman David Taylor is poised to secure the GOP nomination, paving the way for him to succeed retiring Republican Brad Wenstrup in the southern Ohio seat. Wenstrup, who has served since 2012, announced his retirement last fall, citing the demanding nature of Washington politics that has kept him away from his family.
