Boardman, OH -- “Until I saw Jon Boccieri on my caller ID, I never thought I was going to win,” says Ohio Senate 33rd District Elect Michael Rulli.

Rulli still rules the show at his family’s century-old grocery store in Boardman but come January, he 'll be sworn in as state senator Michael Rulli, representing Mahoning and Columbiana Counties at the Ohio Statehouse.

On Nov 6th Rulli defeated long-time Democrat John Boccieri by more than 6-thousand votes...and became the first ever Republican to represent the 33rd district in the Senate.

It’s been his dream since the fifth grade.

  • First Republican to Win Ohio Senate 33rd District
  • Dreaming of Senate since 5th grade
  • Wants businesses to invest locally

 

“I remember being in that upper chamber and walking around and thinking this would be amazing sometime so. I figured before I turned 50 I would give this a try, so I was all in,” says Rulli.

 

Rulli says he wants businesses to invest locally, and will work on ways to retain talent, and continue to look for solutions to the opioid crisis.

“It's too easy for people just to throw people away and not really slow down and take note that those are human beings and you have to be a good person and we have to care,” says Rulli.

Rulli says people in his district tell him they’ve been ignored by state lawmakers and he hopes his background as a businessman will help lead to dialog between the party lines.

 

“When we have projects that are happening or if we have concerns or things that need to be done and we have the hard work that needs to be done ahead. They need to be on my side. If they choose not to be on my side then they'll never see this seat again. And I think i'm the perfect vehicle to make that happen,” says Rulli.

 

Rulli’s only other political experience had been as a Board of Education member for the Villiage of Leetonia in Columbiana County for the past eight years.

While his opponent led in Mahoning County, Rulli earned nearly 70 percent of the vote in Columbiana County…so he understands the divide, both politically, and personally.  

 

“I have family members that are on both sides of the party and I think we need to get together,” says Rulli.