WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republicans are back in control of the U.S. House and California Congressman Kevin McCarthy is now leading them, thanks in no small measure to the backing of Ohio’s 10 House Republicans.

What You Need To Know

  • Throughout the last month, Spectrum News has spoken with eight of Ohio’s 15 U.S. House members about their plans for the 118th Congress

  • Now that last week’s marathon vote for House Speaker is complete, members are figuring out how to have a productive session of Congress

  • Spectrum News spoke with three Republicans and five Democrats leading up to, and during, the vote for Speaker
  • Ohio Republicans unanimously supported Kevin McCarthy for the job, while Ohio Democrats stuck together to vote for their party’s leader, Hakeem Jeffries 

Every GOP House member in the state’s delegation supported McCarthy through all 15 rounds of voting for House Speaker last week.

“He has truly been the leader of this party. He’s raised more money, he’s put forth the Commitment to America. Quite frankly, listen, he deserves to be our leader,” said Rep. Mike Carey, R-Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, in an interview with Spectrum News during the marathon.

Back in December, freshman Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio’s 7th Congressional District, said he felt similarly about McCarthy.

“He’s the one that can see us through this,” Miller told Spectrum News. “There has not been one person who has launched a formidable challenge that can lead our conference into what is going to be a very challenging two years coming forward.”

But Ohio’s five Democratic House members say the longest Speaker vote since before the Civil War proves the Republican Party is not prepared to lead.

Toledo Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, said people want unification, not what played out on the House floor last week.

“It reaffirms their feeling that things aren’t going right here. So right now, coming out of the pandemic, America needs healing,” Kaptur told Spectrum News on Jan. 3.

Freshmen Democrats Greg Landsman, D-Ohio’s 1st Congressional District, and Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, said throughout the marathon that Republicans’ behavior concerned them. But they said they will still try to forge relationships across the aisle, especially since they are in the minority.

“I will work with whoever if it means that we’re going to get something done for the country, and in particular, for my district,” Landsman told Spectrum News during the vote series last week.

In a separate interview on the same day, Sykes echoed him.

“I am confident I can find colleagues on the other side of the aisle, as well as Democrats, to do that,” she said.

Veteran Republicans, like Northwest Ohio Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio’s 5th Congressional District, say it’s time to get to work on issues important to constituents.

“Over 9% inflation. When you look at people going to the grocery store buying eggs for $4.19. We had gasoline prices across the country – some areas over $6 in Ohio, over $5 in my district alone,” Latta said in an interview on Jan. 5.

Because Democrats still control the Senate and White House, Republicans will have to compromise in some areas if they want any legislation to become law.

Cleveland Democratic Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio’s 11th Congressional District, argued her party losing control of the House does not mean they are less united.

“The Democrats are continuing to do what we’ve always done, which is get it done. We’re doing the work and we’re looking to deliver for our constituents,” Brown said in a Zoom interview on Dec. 23.

During last week’s vote series, Columbus Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio’s 3rd Congressional District, issued a warning to now-Speaker McCarthy, who only has a five-seat majority.

“Let me just say one thing. With the margin he has, and the things that he has given away or said that he would do to get the votes, he’s going to need a lot of help,” Beatty told Spectrum News.