Jason Stephens (politician)
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jason Stephens
| office = 106th Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives
| term_start = January 3, 2023
| term_end = January 6, 2025
| predecessor = Robert R. Cupp
| successor = Matt Huffman
| state_house1 = Ohio
| district1 = 93rd
| term_start1 = October 10, 2019
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Ryan Smith
| successor1 =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1971}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| education = Lipscomb University (BS)
| image =
| caption = Stephens at state and local government committee
}}
Jason C. Stephens is an American Republican politician who became the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives on January 3, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://ohiohouse.gov/news/republican/jason-c-stephens-sworn-in-to-serve-93rd-house-district-101284|title=Jason C. Stephens Sworn in to Serve 93rd House District|website=Newark Advocate |date=October 10, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210528093051/https://ohiohouse.gov/news/republican/jason-c-stephens-sworn-in-to-serve-93rd-house-district-101284 |archive-date=May 28, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://ohiohouse.gov/jason-stephens/biography|title=Representative Jason Stephens|website=OhioHouse.gov}} He has been the representative for the 93rd district since October 10, 2019, taking the seat after Ryan Smith left the House to become president of the University of Rio Grande.{{cite web |url=https://www.statenews.org/post/former-leader-ohio-house-resigns |first=Jo|last=Ingles|title=Former Leader of the Ohio House Resigns |website=Statehouse News Bureau|date=September 26, 2019}}
Political career
Stephens's election to Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives was an unexpected result, as he defeated far right Derek Merrin.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-04 |title='Moderate' Republican Jason Stephens snatches Ohio House Speaker position in surprise upset |url=https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/politics/ohio-politics/moderate-republican-jason-stephens-snatches-ohio-house-speaker-position-in-surprise-upset |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=News 5 Cleveland WEWS |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Trau |first=Morgan |last2= |first2= |last3= |date=2023-01-04 |title='Moderate' Republican Jason Stephens snatches Ohio House Speaker position in surprise upset |url=https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/01/04/moderate-republican-jason-stephens-snatches-ohio-house-speaker-position-in-surprise-upset/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Ohio Capital Journal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pelzer |first=Jeremy |date=2023-01-03 |title=Republican Jason Stephens elected Ohio House speaker thanks to Democratic support |url=https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/01/jason-stephens-elected-ohio-house-speaker.html |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=The Plain Dealer |language=en}} Stephens was able to secure election to the Speakership by receiving the votes of all of the Democratic caucus along with a third of the Republicans, even though he had previously lost an internal GOP caucus vote for leader.{{Cite web |last=Pelzer |first=Jeremy |date=2023-01-05 |title=Here’s how Jason Stephens was elected Ohio House Speaker |url=https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/01/how-did-jason-stephens-get-elected-ohio-house-speaker.html |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=The Plain Dealer |language=en}} Democratic Leader Allison Russo noted that the selection of Stephens did not come with a "grand deal" but that the Stephens would work with her caucus on items ranging from education policy to redistricting.{{Cite web |last=Staver |first=Anna |date=January 4, 2023 |title=Who is Jason Stephens? The new Republican Speaker of the Ohio House |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2023/01/04/jason-stephens-republican-speaker-of-the-ohio-house/69776898007/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Stephens voted for legislation to ban gender-affirming medical care for minors and ban transgender athletes from competing in women's sports. The legislation was vetoed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, who argued that medical care should be left to families and their doctors, not be dictated by the government.{{Cite web |last=Hancock |first=Laura |last2=Pelzer |first2=Jeremy |date=2023-12-29 |title=Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine vetoes bill that would ban transgender health care for minors, athletes in women’s sports |url=https://cleveland.com/news/2023/12/ohio-gov-mike-dewine-vetoes-bill-that-would-ban-transgender-health-care-for-minors-athletes-in-womens-sports.html |website=cleveland |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{s-bef|before=Robert R. Cupp}}
{{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives|years=2023–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Matt Huffman}}
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{{Members of the Ohio House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Jason}}
Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly
Category:Lipscomb University alumni
Category:Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives
Category:Speakers of the Ohio House of Representatives
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