Stidham takes office in Ohio House

SANDUSKY — After being elected last week, state Rep. Caleb Stidham, R-Perkins Township, has been sworn in as the newest member of the Ohio House. Stidham's fellow Republicans in the statehouse unanimously voted to seat him early, and he was then sworn into office. "It's an honor to be sworn in as state representative of the 89th Ohio House District," said Stidham, who defeated his Democratic challenger, Easton Retzke, and write-in candidate Steve Kraus, who previously served in the House. "I'm grateful for the trust the residents of Erie, Huron and Ottawa counties have placed in me and am excited to represent the people of this district." The district includes all of Erie County, most of Ottawa County and a portion of Huron County. An opportunity to take office early happened because the seat had been vacant after former state Rep. D.J. Swearingen, another Republican, resigned to work in the U.S. Department of Justice. Stidham will spend the last few weeks of 2026 serving the remainder of Swearingen's term before taking office in January for a two-year term. As the current session ends on Dec. 31, any new legislation that Stidham might want to introduce would have to be passed quickly. Stidham said he expects to concentrate on influencing already-existing bills. Stidham said he can be reached at rep89@ohiohouse.gov or by phoning 614-644-6011. He said he already has access to messages and can respond to constituents who need help. Stidham said he expects to announce his committee assignments soon. He's been assigned an office on the 13th floor of the Vern Riffe Center. Because of his early appointment in the statehouse, Stidham needed to resign from his role as Erie County's treasurer. His replacement is expected to be announced soon.