Brian Stewart (politician)

Stewart enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from Chillicothe High School in Chillicothe, Ohio.^[1] After serving in the infantry during the Iraq War, Stewart returned to Ohio, earning a bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor from Ohio State University.^[2]

Stewart was elected to Village Council of Ashville, Ohio in November 2009. He earned 23.3% of the vote in the five-way, non-partisan race.^[3] In 2012, Stewart ran for Pickaway County, Ohio commissioner. He won the Republican nomination by securing 59.1% of the vote and went on to win the three-way general election with 44.6%.^[4] He was reelected to the position in 2016, with 58.3% of the vote.^[5]

Stewart was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in November 2020, succeeding incumbent Republican Ron Hood. He defeated Democrat Charlotte Owens in 2020, winning 72.7% to 27.3%.^[6] Less than six months after beginning his term, Stewart announced that he would run for United States Congress, representing Ohio's 15th congressional district.^[1] Stewart dropped out of the race before election day citing a lack of resources.^[7]

2023 constitutional referendum

Stewart was the creator of a proposed constitutional amendment that would have raised the threshold of a voter-led initiatives to amend the Constitution of Ohio from 50% to 60%.^[8] The measure failed with 57% voting "No" and 43% voting "Yes."

136th General Assembly

Stewart defeated Democrat Brad Cotton, winning 72.9% to 27.1%.^[9] Stewart was made Finance Chairman of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 136th General Assembly, primarily overseeing Ohio's biennial budget. The budget passed by the General Assembly included several measures reforming Ohio's property tax laws, many of which were vetoed by Governor Mike DeWine.^[10] The budget under Stewart also created a $1.7 billion “Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility” from an unclaimed funds reserve, which included a mandatory $600 million bond to be given to the Cleveland Browns for stadium relocation.^[11]

Current committee assignments^[12]

• Finance (chair)
• Health
• Judiciary
• Medicaid
• Redistricting