Rulli Wins Ohio US House Seat in Special Election

Republican state Sen. Michael Rulli won a special election in Ohio's 6th Congressional District, securing the U.S. House seat previously held by GOP’s Bill Johnson. Rulli defeated Democrat Michael Kripchak and will serve until the next election in January, where the two will compete again for a full two-year term. The seat became vacant after Johnson resigned to become president of Youngstown State University.

The election took place under congressional maps deemed unconstitutionally gerrymandered by the Ohio Supreme Court, favoring Republicans in a district that leans nearly 59% Republican. Rulli's victory margin was narrower than Johnson's previous wins, which had exceeded 30 percentage points. Rulli, a second-term state senator from Salem, is also involved in his family's grocery business.