Brian Stewart (politician)

Brian Stewart is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 12th district.

Brian Stewart
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 12th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byJuanita Brent
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 78th district
In office
January 4, 2021 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byRon Hood
Succeeded bySusan Manchester
Personal details
Born1982 (age 41–42)
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Letanya Myers
(m. 2004)
Children3
EducationOhio State University (BA, JD)
Military service
Branch/service United States Army
Battles/warsIraq War

Early life and education

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Stewart enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from Chillicothe High School in Chillicothe, Ohio.[1] After serving in the infantry during the Iraq War, Stewart returned to Ohio, earning a bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor from Ohio State University.[2]

Political career

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Stewart was elected to Village Council of Ashville, Ohio in November 2009. He earned 23.3% of the vote in the five-way, non-partisan race.[3] In 2012, Stewart ran for Pickaway County, Ohio commissioner. He won the Republican nomination by securing 59.1% of the vote and went on to win the three-way general election with 44.6%.[4] He was reelected to the position in 2016, with 58.3% of the vote.[5]

Stewart was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in November 2020, succeeding incumbent Republican Ron Hood. He defeated Democrat Charlotte Owens in 2020, winning 72.7% to 27.3%.[6] Less than six months after beginning his term, Stewart announced that he would run for United States Congress, representing Ohio's 15th congressional district.[1] Stewart dropped out of the race before election day citing a lack of resources.[7]

2023 constitutional referendum

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Stewart was the creator of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have raised the threshold of a voter-led initiatives to amend the Constitution of Ohio from 50% to 60%.[8] According to Stewart, Issue 1 was intended to stop "far-left ballot proposals" and "ballot campaigns [featuring] destructive policies that [liberal groups] could never get through a state legislature."[9]

The election was held on August 8, 2023, and had more than 3 million Ohioans cast their votes. The measure failed with 57% voting "No" and 43% voting "Yes."

Electoral history

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2024 Ohio House District 12 primary election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Stewart 9,537 57.15%
Republican Patty Hamilton 7,150 42.85%
2022 Ohio House District 12 general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Stewart 29,571 99.62% +26.91%
Write-in Matthew Briner 114 0.38%
2020 Ohio House District 78 general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Stewart 42,314 72.71%
Democratic Charlotte Owens 15,878 27.29%
2020 Ohio House District 78 primary election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Stewart 7,820 66.93%
Republican Bobby Mitchell 2,939 25.16%
Republican Aaron Adams 924 7.91%
2016 Pickaway County Commissioner general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Stewart 13,580 58.31% +13.74%
Democratic John R. Ankrom 9,709 41.69% +10.36%
2012 Pickaway County Commissioner general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Stewart 9,838 44.57%
Democratic Daniel V. Bradhurst 6,915 31.33%
Independent Mark G. Perrill 5,322 24.11%
2012 Pickaway County Commissioner primary election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Brian Stewart 3,831 59.12%
Republican Jayme Hartley Fountain 2,649 40.88%
2009 Village of Ashville Council general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Brian Stewart 582 23.28%
Independent Glenn Cook 558 22.32%
Independent Gayle Blakenship 491 19.64%
Independent Keith A. Moore 465 18.60%
Independent Chester Gloyd 404 16.16%

References

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  1. ^ a b Reutter, Justin. "Chillicothe native Brian Stewart runs for US Congressional seat". Chillicothe Gazette. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  2. ^ "Brian Stewart Biography". Ohio House of Representatives. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "2009 General Election Pickaway County" (PDF). Ohio Board of Elections Archives. November 3, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  4. ^ "Pickaway County, Ohio General Election November 6, 2012" (PDF). November 6, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  5. ^ "Pickaway County, Ohio General Election November 8, 2016" (PDF). November 8, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  6. ^ "2020 Ohio State House – District 78 Election Results". Milwaukee Journal Sentential.
  7. ^ BeMiller, Haley. "Ohio Rep. Brian Stewart drops out of crowded GOP field for 15th Congressional District election". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  8. ^ "Issue 1 is '100%' about blocking abortion measure, Frank LaRose says". NBC4 WCMH-TV. June 5, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland com (June 4, 2023). "Ohio's fight over State Issue 1 just one part of a larger national battle over ballot issues". cleveland. Retrieved December 12, 2023.