Ohio House

The fight over Ohio House leadership could stop the Republican supermajority from passing legislation that goes into effect immediately and can't be put before voters.

The routine vote to set up rules for the Ohio House for the two-year session got unruly when the coalition supporting Rep. Derek Merrin for House speaker wanted to propose some amendments designed to make some big changes.

House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) and Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova) are at odds over who is the leader of the Ohio House Republican caucus.

Republicans House members fought over rules and new leadership during Tuesday’s session.

Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) sent a memo showing he's nominated two of his own supporters to his team, along with two supporters of his opponent for speaker, Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township).

The scheduled session would be the first meeting of the Ohio House since Rep. Jason Stephens won a contentious battle for House speaker over Rep. Derek Merrin.

The fight over House Republican leadership has stirred lingering questions over how the legislative process will work for many leaders, lobbyists, and advocates this year.

Rep. Gary Click (R-Vickery) was among the 43 Republican House members who voted for Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova), who lost the speakership last week after Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) was elected by a bipartisan coalition of members.

Dozens of House Republicans gathered in a closed-door meeting to talk about the future of their caucus after a fight over who will lead the chamber.

There are suggestions from both Republican and Democrat sources that the secret ballot vote for Ohio House speaker may not reelect Derek Merrin.