Nathan Manning leaving Ohio Senate

State Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, who represents most of Huron County, is leaving office soon to accept a judicial appointment. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced he has appointed Manning to the Ninth District Court of Appeals, effective Aug. 3. He's taking the seat formerly held by Judge Donna J. Carr, who retired. Manning will serve the rest of the unexpired term but must run for re-election this November to keep the seat. Manning's state Senate district includes Lorain County and also most of Huron County, including Norwalk and Willard. He is term-limited, and 2026 was his last year, anyway. But the appointment means that he is leaving early. The appointment also complicates the fall elections for the Ohio General Assembly. Manning's mother, state Rep. Gayle Manning, R-Avon, is running for Nathan Manning's Senate District 13 seat and is opposed by state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst. Miller currently represents District 53 in Lorain County. Senate Republicans can pick a temporary replacement for Nathan Manning. It's possible that Gayle Manning will be appointed to fill her son's seat before the November election. A phone call to Gayle Manning's office wasn't immediately returned Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, Nathan Manning had filed to run for Gayle Manning's House District 52 seat, which also covers portions of Lorain County. Nathan Manning's impending exit means that Republicans will need to find another candidate. Whoever the GOP candidate is will be opposed by Democrat Mike Baker. The Ninth District Court of Appeals is based in Akron. It handles appeals from Lorain, Summit, Medina and Wayne counties.