Johnathan Newman
American politician (born 1968)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Johnathan Newman (born July 5, 1968) is an American Christian pastor and Republican Party politician serving as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 80th district since January 2025.[1]
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Johnathan Newman | |
|---|---|
Newman in 2025 | |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives for the 80th district | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Jena Powell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 5, 1968 |
| Party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Union University (BA); Mid‑America Baptist Theological Seminary (MA) |
| Profession | Pastor |
Early life and education
Newman earned bachelor’s degrees in theology and sociology from Union University in Tennessee and a master’s degree in divinity from Mid‑America Baptist Theological Seminary.[2]
Religious and community leadership
Political career
Election
In November 2024, Newman was elected to represent Ohio’s open House District 80, defeating Democrat Melissa VanDyke with 74.9% of the vote.[2][4] During the 2024 campaign, local media featured Newman’s pastoral background and community leadership in their coverage of the open-seat contest.[4]
He was sworn into office on January 6, 2025.[5]
Tenure
Newman serves as vice-chair of the House Agriculture Committee and is also a member of the Community Revitalization, Education, and Transportation committees.[1]
He participated in the passage of the state operating budget, supported the Agriculture Appreciation Act (HB 65), sponsored legislation on annexation procedures, and backed a resolution urging repeal of the Johnson Amendment.[5]
In June 2025, Newman co-sponsored the Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act, a proposed bill that would grant full legal personhood to fertilized embryos and criminalize abortion as homicide.[6] He criticized the 2023 Ohio reproductive rights initiative (Issue 1), stating, “I think the passage of Issue 1 ... was the worst mistake Ohio ever made,” and acknowledged the tension between constituent will and his views.[7]
Personal life
Newman and his wife Jeni have three adult children.[8]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Johnathan Newman | 48,115 | 74.9% | |
| Democratic | Melissa Van Dyke | 16,157 | 25.1% | |
| Turnout | 64,272 | |||