Rep. Bill Johnson, who has been in Congress since 2011, is leaving Jan. 21 to become president of Youngstown State University.
Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) announced on Tuesday that he will resign from Congress, further narrowing the slim GOP majority in the House of Representatives.
The lawmaker, whose resignation will take effect Jan. 21, has served in Congress since 2011. He is leaving to become president of Youngstown State University, where his tenure is set to begin on Jan. 22.
This changes the number of seats the GOP holds in the House from 220 to 219. There will be 432 members with three vacancies due to the resignations of Mr. Johnson and former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and the expelling of Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.). The GOP can only afford to lose two votes in order to pass measures in the lower congressional chamber.
Mr. Johnson announced on Nov. 21 that he would not seek reelection after accepting an offer to lead the school located in Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, which he represents. The Youngstown University Board of Trustees voted almost unanimously in favor of hiring Mr. Johnson as president of the school, which was founded in 1908.
“After much thought and prayerful deliberation, I have accepted the offer to lead Youngstown State University and will not be seeking an 8th term in Congress,” the lawmaker posted on X, formerly Twitter. “As I’ve stated previously, I wasn’t looking for another job, because I love the one I have serving the people of Eastern Ohio in the U.S. House. This was an extremely difficult decision.”
Mr. Johnson said he would stay in Congress for “several more months”—though that is no longer the case as his resignation will have been just over a month after the announcement.
“With his contract indicating he would start prior to March 15, we are excited to have him on campus earlier than anticipated,” stated Youngstown University Board of Trustees Chairman Michael Peterson, according to multiple media reports.
Ohio law stipulates that special elections during a presidential primary year take place on the second Tuesday after the first Monday in March. This year, that day would be March 12—one week after Super Tuesday, when there are multiple primaries nationwide, including for president. Mr. Johnson’s district is all but guaranteed to stay in GOP hands as it is solidly red.
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