OH-12: A Resignation Announcement

Nine-term Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-Galena/ Franklin County) made public his intention to resign from the House before January 31st in order to become president of the Ohio Business Roundtable organization.  The Congressman also desires to be in Ohio full-time with his family and elderly widowed father, providing further reasons for his decision to leave Congress.  Earlier this year Mr. Tiberi flirted with running for the Senate and went on a fundraising tear, only to leave it all behind just a few months later.  His campaign treasury exceeds $6 million, which could go to the national party, help fund an affiliated political action committee, or remain in the bank in case the Congressman decides upon a future return to elective politics.
 
The move will necessitate Gov. John Kasich (R) calling a special election to fill the seat he, himself, held for 18 years.  Rep. Tiberi was first elected in 2000 to replace Mr. Kasich upon the latter’s retirement from the House.  The newly open Columbus area seat means there will be at least 30 incumbent-less districts nationwide in the 2018 election cycle.

--Jim Ellis