WASHINGTON, D.C. — To mark the first anniversary of the U.S. Capitol being attacked, Spectrum News asked every member of Ohio’s congressional delegation to share how they are reflecting on it.

Some members responded, while others did not. A full list is below.

Congressional Democrats are hosting a series of events Thursday to commemorate the attack, including a moment of silence on the House floor and a prayer vigil on the steps of the Capitol. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will also visit the Hill and speak.

Spectrum News also asked Ohio’s lawmakers if they will be attending any of the events, since the House and Senate won’t be in session and COVID-19 continues to spread.

As of publication, of the members who responded, only Rep. Joyce Beatty (D, OH-3) will be attending.

In the hours after the Capitol was attacked by supporters of former President Donald Trump who wanted to prevent the certification of the 2020 election results, 13 of Ohio’s 18 members of Congress voted to certify them — 8 Republicans and 5 Democrats.

Five Ohio Republican U.S. House members objected to certifying the election results in at least one state: Representatives Steve Chabot (OH-1), Jim Jordan (OH-4), Bill Johnson (OH-6), Bob Gibbs (OH-7) and Warren Davidson (OH-8).

All five men objected to certifying the results in Pennsylvania. Chabot did not join the other four in objecting to Arizona.

Following the attack, Democrats sought to impeach Trump for inciting it. 

Ultimately, all five Ohio Democrats in Congress and one Republican, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16), voted to impeach. Ohio’s 12 other Republicans voted against impeachment.

In late January, Sen. Rob Portman (R) announced he would not run for reelection, citing in part the increased polarization on Capitol Hill.

Several months later, Rep. Gonzalez announced he would not run for reelection, citing both family reasons and the threats he faced after his impeachment vote.

In recent weeks, the House committee investigating the Capitol attack requested to meet with Rep. Jordan to discuss his interactions with Trump before, during and after Jan. 6, which he has struggled to explain since confirming to Spectrum News that he spoke with Trump on the day of the attack. 

As of publication, Jordan has not said whether he will cooperate with the committee.

Here is what each lawmaker told Spectrum News:

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D): 

“On January 6, 2021, domestic terrorists attacked our seat of government in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It was a dark day in our country’s history – but thankfully, they failed, and democracy won. We need to ensure this can never happen again. As Congressional Committees continue to investigate, it has become clear that this insurrection was carefully orchestrated and supported by people serving at the highest levels of government, including then-President Donald Trump. I support the Department of Justice’s continued efforts to prosecute those who took part in this attack, and the efforts of the bipartisan House Committee to hold the people who encouraged and facilitated this assault on our country accountable. If we do not get to the bottom of exactly what happened that day – including the events leading up to it that fueled this attack – it leaves our democracy vulnerable, further compromising national security and the will of the people.” 

Sen. Rob Portman (R):

“The January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, a symbol of American democracy, is a stain on our nation’s history and we need to be sure it never happens again. The joint bipartisan report from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Rules Committee, which I co-authored, highlighted the significant intelligence and security failures leading up to and on January 6 and proposed changes to ensure that events like January 6 never happen again. As we mark one year since the breach of the Capitol, I am continuing to perform oversight to ensure that federal agencies are implementing the recommendations made in our report. Some of these recommendations have already been implemented. But more work remains, and I will continue working with my colleagues to ensure the rest of them are fully implemented as well.”

Rep. Steve Chabot (R, OH-1):

No response

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R, OH-2):

No response

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D, OH-3):

In an interview with Spectrum News before Christmas, Beatty said: “It's very emotional. When you think about the number of lives, innocent lives that were lost. When you think about people scaling the wall of the United States Congress, breaking out windows, tearing down doors to come inside to actually say that they wanted to take the lives of people in leadership, including the vice president, a Republican vice president, not that that matters, the party. The Speaker of the House, many members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and other members across the state feared for their life. So when I think of January the 6th, I have mixed emotions. It would be easy to say I want to forget about it. I want to forget about being in my office with young people crying and thinking that they were going to die. Being escorted to a safe place. But I also want us to have justice.”

Rep. Jim Jordan (R, OH-4):

No response

Rep. Bob Latta (R, OH-5):

No response

Rep. Bill Johnson (R, OH-6):

“Like you, a year ago I was shocked and dismayed by the violence at the Capitol; it was a sad day for our republic. Violence and destruction will never be considered acceptable forms of political protest…whether it be at the Capitol, the White House, federal courthouses, or on city streets across America. I said on January 6, and I continue to say, those who committed acts of violence and destruction in the Capitol that day must be held to account…and that is happening. I thank all the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement personnel for their heroic efforts that day, and every day, to serve and protect.”

Rep. Bob Gibbs (R, OH-7):

No response

Rep. Warren Davidson (R, OH-8):

No response

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D, OH-9):

In an interview with Spectrum News before Christmas, Kaptur said: "We all reflect on what happened. And as we begin a new year of 2022, we hope America can turn a new page, a page of greater civility, of greater understanding, of greater respect for our fellow human beings in this country. And that those of us who are elected and have the privilege of being elected will be able to link to those who were so driven to destroy — to bring them back into the fold of civilized society. That's going to be difficult, but I also know that you never leave anyone isolated. That when people feel that kind of urge to act out, and frankly, were being driven by forces that I think wanted that to happen, and many innocent people were drawn up into it, some of them did not realize what would happen. But there were others, very insidious, who exactly wanted that to happen. And so I'm just hoping that with a new year, there's always new possibility. And I hope that we can have a country and a politics that respects people.”

Rep. Mike Turner (R, OH-10): 

No response

Rep. Shontel Brown (D, OH-11):

“Although I was not yet a Member of Congress when the violent attack on the Capitol took place on this day last year, I join my colleagues and, indeed, all Americans in solemn observance of the anniversary of one of the darkest days in our history.  Make no mistake: what occurred on January 6 was a direct assault on the Capitol and democracy itself. Yet even as the Select Committee on the January 6 Attack seeks the truth of what happened that day, while making every effort to ensure those responsible are held accountable, the threat to our democracy continues. In 2021, 19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to the ballot box. Today, as we honor the brave officers who defended the temple of our democracy and the members, staff, and all working in the Capitol that day, Congress must take strong action to protect the right to vote and safeguard the integrity of our Republic.” (Note: Brown entered Congress in November 2021)

Rep. Troy Balderson (R, OH-12):

No response

Rep. Tim Ryan (D, OH-13): 

In an interview with Spectrum News on Tuesday, Ryan said: “It’s still surreal. I mean, you watch the videos in the run-up to all the coverage for the one-year anniversary and it's just still surreal. And it's very frustrating, again, that we have major leaders that are looking the other way, pretending this didn't happen. It wasn't an insurrection. You know, let's stick up for the people who were actually storming the Capitol, as opposed to the cops. So it's very, very frustrating that we still have some of this kind of culture stuff that we still got to deal with, as opposed to moving on and dealing with the big issues in the country that we need to deal with.”

Rep. Dave Joyce (R, OH-14): 

His office referred to the statement he released right after the Capitol attack and said “his views on that day have not changed.” In the initial statement, Joyce said, in part, “This election was not stolen from President Trump. He lost. This fact has been made crystal clear…What occurred today will forever be an indelible stain on our democracy.”

Rep. Mike Carey (R, OH-15):

"January 6 was a terrible day for our nation and the people who committed lawless acts on our Capitol deserve to face legal consequences. Unfortunately, after a year, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats remain more focused on using this as a political weapon to divide the nation than on determining why the Capitol was left unprepared and ensuring that nothing like this ever happens again."(Note: Carey entered Congress in November 2021)

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R, OH-16):

His office declined to provide a statement, but Gonzalez spoke with CNN late last year about his concerns for the lasting impact the attack and Trump’s behavior could have.