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Ohio House of Representatives District 8

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Ohio House of Representatives District 8
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 1, 2025

Ohio House of Representatives District 8 is represented by Anita Somani (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Ohio state representatives represented an average of 119,281 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 116,853 residents.

About the office

Members of the Ohio House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits.[1] Representatives may serve no more than four consecutive terms. Ohio legislators assume office the first day of January after a general election.[2][3]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article 2, Section 3 of the Ohio Constitution states: "Senators and representatives shall have resided in their respective districts one year next preceding their election, unless they shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this State."[4]

Article 15, Section 4 of the Ohio Constitution states: "No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this state unless possessed of the qualifications of an elector."[5]

Article 2, Section 5 of the Ohio Constitution states: "No person hereafter convicted of an embezzlement of the public funds, shall hold any office in this state; nor shall any person, holding public money for disbursement, or otherwise, have a seat in the general assembly, until he shall have accounted for, and paid such money into the treasury."[6]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[7]
SalaryPer diem
$71,099/yearNo per diem is paid.

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Ohio legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Ohio Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative limited Ohio representatives to no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.[8]

The first year that term limits were enacted was in 1992, and the first year that term limits impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.


Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Ohio General Assembly, the vacancy must be filled by an election conducted by the members of the legislative house where the vacancy happened who are members of the party that last held the seat. A simple majority vote is needed in order to approve a replacement.[9]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Ohio Const. Art. 2, Sec. 11


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Ohio after the 2020 census

Due to a 2022 Ohio Supreme Court ruling, the Ohio Redistricting Commission was required to draw new state legislative maps following the 2022 elections.[10]

On September 26, 2023, the Ohio Redistricting Commission voted 6-0 (with one member absent) to adopt new state legislative maps.[11][12] On October 5, the ACLU of Ohio filed a motion on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Ohio and other plaintiffs asking the Ohio Supreme Court to invalidate the new state legislative maps on the grounds that they violated the state constitution.[13]

On November 27, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the maps and dismissed the following cases: League of Women Voters of Ohio et al. v. Ohio Redistricting Commission et al., Bennett et al. v. Ohio Redistricting Commission et al., and Ohio Organizing Collaborative et al. v. Ohio Redistricting Commission et al.[14] Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy wrote for the majority: "The bipartisan adoption of the September 2023 plan is a changed circumstance that makes it appropriate to relinquish our continuing jurisdiction over these cases.[15]

The majority was composed of the court's four Republicans.

Justice Jennifer L. Brunner wrote a dissent on behalf of the court's other two Democrats, saying, "It is illusory to suggest that a bipartisan vote to adopt the September 2023 plan constitutes a change in circumstances that somehow diminishes our review power or renders a unanimous redistricting plan constitutionally compliant. There is nothing in Article XI, Section 6 that suggests that bipartisan agreement on a plan renders it presumptively constitutional, and we have flatly rejected that idea."[16]

How does redistricting in Ohio work? In Ohio, the state legislature or a commission may have the opportunity to draw congressional maps. A bipartisan state legislative commission draws state legislative maps. A six-member advisory commission is involved in both the congressional and state legislative redistricting processes.

Ohio House of Representatives District 8
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Ohio House of Representatives District 8
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.


Elections

2024

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Anita Somani defeated Aaron Neumann in the general election for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Anita Somani
Anita Somani (D)
 
64.5
 
36,054
Image of Aaron Neumann
Aaron Neumann (R)
 
35.5
 
19,829

Total votes: 55,883
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Anita Somani advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Anita Somani
Anita Somani
 
100.0
 
6,255

Total votes: 6,255
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Aaron Neumann advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on March 19, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Aaron Neumann
Aaron Neumann (Write-in)
 
100.0
 
247

Total votes: 247
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Beth Liston defeated Zully Truemper in the general election for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Beth Liston
Beth Liston (D)
 
68.4
 
33,436
Zully Truemper (R)
 
31.6
 
15,455

Total votes: 48,891
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Beth Liston advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Beth Liston
Beth Liston
 
100.0
 
4,064

Total votes: 4,064
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Zully Truemper advanced from the Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Zully Truemper (Write-in)
 
100.0
 
459

Total votes: 459
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Kent Smith won election in the general election for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kent Smith
Kent Smith (D)
 
100.0
 
41,159

Total votes: 41,159
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Kent Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on April 28, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kent Smith
Kent Smith
 
100.0
 
11,185

Total votes: 11,185
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

No candidate advanced from the primary.

Candidate
%
Votes
Chris Litwinowicz (Write-in)
 
100.0
 
16

Vote totals may be incomplete for this race.

Total votes: 16
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Kent Smith won election in the general election for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kent Smith
Kent Smith (D)
 
100.0
 
36,688

Total votes: 36,688
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8

Incumbent Kent Smith defeated Cassandra McDonald in the Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Kent Smith
Kent Smith
 
59.2
 
6,890
Image of Cassandra McDonald
Cassandra McDonald
 
40.8
 
4,749

Total votes: 11,639
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2016

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 16, 2015.

Incumbent Kent Smith defeated Cassandra McDonald in the Ohio House of Representatives District 8 general election.[17]

Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Kent Smith Incumbent 79.81% 40,634
     Republican Cassandra McDonald 20.19% 10,280
Total Votes 50,914
Source: Ohio Secretary of State


Incumbent Kent Smith ran unopposed in the Ohio House of Representatives District 8 Democratic primary.[18][19]

Ohio House of Representatives District 8, Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Kent Smith Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 13,057
Total Votes 13,057


Cassandra McDonald ran unopposed in the Ohio House of Representatives District 8 Republican primary.[18][19]

Ohio House of Representatives District 8, Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Cassandra McDonald  (unopposed) 100.00% 3,423
Total Votes 3,423


2014

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 5, 2014. Kent Smith defeated Sylvia James in the Democratic primary, while Mikhail Alterman was unopposed in the Republican primary. Jocelyn Conwell ran as an Independent candidate. Smith defeated Alterman and Conwell in the general election.[20]

Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngKent Smith 71.6% 21,420
     Republican Mikhail Alterman 18.3% 5,472
     Independent Jocelyn Conwell 10.1% 3,027
Total Votes 29,919
Ohio House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngKent Smith 64.2% 6,348
Sylvia James 35.8% 3,533
Total Votes 9,881

2012

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on March 6, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 7, 2011. Incumbent Armond Budish (D) defeated Tony Hocevar (R) in the general election and Azaadjeet Singh in the Democratic primary. Hocevar was unopposed in the Republican primary.[21][22][23][24]

Ohio House of Representatives, District 8, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngMike Dovilla Incumbent 82.8% 40,877
     Republican Tony Hocevar 17.2% 8,472
Total Votes 49,349
Ohio House of Representatives Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngArmond Budish Incumbent 84.5% 9,659
Azaadjeet Singh 15.5% 1,767
Total Votes 11,426

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Ohio House of Representatives District 8 raised a total of $5,539,494. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $184,650 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Ohio House of Representatives District 8
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $106,734 2 $53,367
2022 $208,751 2 $104,375
2020 $54,796 1 $54,796
2018 $44,537 2 $22,269
2016 $45,430 2 $22,715
2014 $52,956 4 $13,239
2012 $764,858 3 $254,953
2010 $2,283,267 3 $761,089
2008 $1,387,410 2 $693,705
2006 $461,346 4 $115,337
2004 $46,800 1 $46,800
2002 $38,461 2 $19,231
2000 $44,149 2 $22,075
Total $5,539,494 30 $184,650


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. termlimits.org, "List of state legislative term limits," accessed December 18, 2013
  2. Ohio Constitution, "Article 2, Section 02," accessed November 1, 2021
  3. [https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/documents/reference/current/guidebook/17/Guidebook.pdf Ohio.gov, "A Guidebook for Ohio Legislators," accessed November 1, 2021]
  4. Ohio Constitution, "Article II, Section 3: Residence requirements for state legislators," accessed May 23, 2025
  5. Ohio Constitution, "Article XV, Section 4: Officers to be qualified electors," accessed May 23, 2025
  6. Ohio Constitution, "Article II, Section 5: Who shall not hold office," accessed May 23, 2025
  7. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  8. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Chart of states with term limits," accessed February 16, 2021
  9. Ohio Constitution, "Article II, Section 11: Filling vacancy in house or senate seat," accessed February 2, 2023
  10. Cleveland.com, "Ohio is about to hold elections for unconstitutional congressional and legislative districts. Here’s how it happened," October 9, 2022
  11. Ohio Capital Journal, "Ohio Redistricting Commission adopts sixth version of Statehouse maps with bipartisan support," September 27, 2023
  12. WCBE, "Ohio Redistricting Commission unanimously approves 6th version of House and Senate maps," September 27, 2023
  13. WFMJ, "Newly enacted district maps challenged by voting rights groups," October 5, 2023
  14. AP, "Ohio Supreme Court dismisses 3 long-running redistricting lawsuits against state legislative maps," November 28, 2023
  15. Ohio Capital Journal, "Ohio Supreme Court dismisses redistricting challenge, leaving Statehouse maps in place," November 28, 2023
  16. Supreme Court of Ohio, "League of Women Voters v. Ohio Redistricting Commission," accessed September 11, 2024
  17. Ohio Secretary of State, "Official election results," accessed December 21, 2016
  18. 18.0 18.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "Candidate Listing By Office," accessed February 8, 2016
  19. 19.0 19.1 Ohio Secretary of State, "2016 Official Elections Results," accessed August 29, 2016
  20. Ohio Secretary of State, "Official primary election results for May 6, 2014," accessed July 3, 2014
  21. Ohio Secretary of State, "Official 2012 General Election Results,” accessed October 25, 2013
  22. Ohio Chamber of Commerce, "2012 General Assembly Primary Candidates," January 17, 2012
  23. Ohio Secretary of State, "2012 Republican Primary Results," accessed December 5, 2013
  24. Ohio Secretary of State, "2012 Democratic Primary Results," accessed December 5, 2013


Current members of the Ohio House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Jason Stephens
Majority Leader:Marilyn John
Minority Leader:Dani Isaacsohn
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
Dan Troy (D)
District 24
District 25
District 26
Vacant
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
District 32
District 33
District 34
District 35
District 36
District 37
Tom Young (R)
District 38
District 39
District 40
District 41
District 42
District 43
District 44
District 45
District 46
District 47
District 48
District 49
District 50
District 51
District 52
District 53
District 54
District 55
District 56
District 57
District 58
District 59
District 60
District 61
Beth Lear (R)
District 62
District 63
Adam Bird (R)
District 64
District 65
District 66
District 67
District 68
District 69
District 70
District 71
Levi Dean (R)
District 72
District 73
Jeff LaRe (R)
District 74
District 75
District 76
District 77
District 78
District 79
District 80
District 81
District 82
District 83
District 84
District 85
District 86
District 87
District 88
District 89
District 90
District 91
District 92
District 93
District 94
District 95
Ty Moore (R)
District 96
District 97
District 98
District 99
Republican Party (65)
Democratic Party (33)
Vacancies (1)