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Speaker Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) and Rep. Larry Householder (R-Glenford) are both vying to lead the House next year. (Ohio House)

Larry Householder Elected Ohio House Speaker, Ousting Ryan Smith

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The months-long behind the scenes fight for leadership of the Ohio House ends with the defeat of the current speaker, and the election of a former speaker to that position again.

There was a lot of suspense in the vote, though current speaker Ryan Smith was one of the two candidates vying for the job. The other – former speaker Larry Householder, who had been working for months to gain support from Republican colleagues and from Democrats, primarily through unions which had supported Householder for years.

As the votes were tallied, Smith had 45 votes to Householder’s 52 – with many of those votes coming from the minority party.

In his first remarks as Speaker, Householder acknowledged the battle, saying he and Smith “have not become the best of friends, to say the least”. But he pledged to work with both Smith and minority leader Fred Strahorn.