Six-term congressman Steve Stivers Monday announced he will leave the House of Representatives in May, to take over the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Stivers chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) during the first two years of former President Donald Trump's tenure in the White House. He has has represented Ohio’s 15th District, which includes parts of Columbus - as well as Fairfield, Pickaway, Madison, Clinton, Hocking, Morgan, Perry and Vinton counties - since 2011.
Stivers had been considered a possible candidate in the U.S. Senate race for the seat being vacated by Sen. Rob Portman in 2022. The GOP primary for that seat has already attracted former state Treasurer Josh Mandel, former Ohio GOP chair Jane Timken, GOP fundraiser Mike Gibbons and businessman Bernie Moreno.
Stivers' departure will trigger a special election, the state's second of the 2021 election season. A special primary election has been scheduled for Ohio's 11th District in August to set the race to replace Rep. Marcia Fudge in November. Fudge stepped down last month after she was confirmed as President Biden’s secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Stivers, who has served on the Financial Services Committee during his tenure in Congress, will step down May 16th. In a statement Monday he said "I am looking forward to this new opportunity with the Ohio chamber of Commerce, where I can continue my efforts to support free enterprise and economic growth here in Ohio.
