Jason Stephens | |
---|---|
106th Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives | |
Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
Preceded by | Robert R. Cupp |
Member of the
Ohio House of Representatives from the 93rd district | |
Assumed office October 10, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Ryan Smith |
Personal details | |
Political party | Republican |
Education | Lipscomb University ( BS) |
Jason C. Stephens is an American Republican politician who became the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives on January 3, 2023. [1] [2] He has been the representative for the 93rd district since October 10, 2019, taking the seat after Ryan Smith left the House to become president of the University of Rio Grande. [3]
Stephens's election to Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives was an unexpected result. [4] [5] [6] Stephens was able to secure election to the Speakership by receiving the votes of all of the Democratic caucus along with a third of the Republicans, even though he had previously lost an internal GOP caucus vote for leader. [7] Democratic Leader Allison Russo noted that the selection of Stephens did not come with a "grand deal" but that the Stephens would work with her caucus on items ranging from education policy to redistricting. [8]
In 2023, Stephens voted for legislation to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors and ban transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. The legislation was vetoed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, who argued that medical care should be left to families and their doctors, not be dictated by the government. [9]