Jon Husted

Jon Husted
Name	Jon Husted
Caption	Official portrait, 2019
Office	Lieutenant Governor of Ohio
Governor	Mike DeWine
Term start	January 14, 2019
Predecessor	Mary Taylor
Office2	Ohio Secretary of State
Governor2	Ted Strickland, John Kasich
Term start2	January 10, 2011
Term end2	January 14, 2019
Predecessor2	Jennifer Brunner
Successor2	Frank LaRose
State house3	Ohio
District3	37th
Term start3	January 3, 2005
Term end3	December 31, 2008
Predecessor3	Jim Hughes
Successor3	Tracy Maxwell Heard
Office4	Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives
Term start4	January 3, 2005
Term end4	December 31, 2008
Predecessor4	Larry Householder
Successor4	Armond Budish
Birth date	25 August 1967
Birth place	Montpelier, Ohio, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Tina Husted
Education	University of Dayton (BS)
Alma mater	University of Dayton

Jon Husted is an American politician serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio under Governor Mike DeWine since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the Ohio Secretary of State from 2011 to 2019 and was the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2008. Throughout his career, Husted has been a prominent figure in state-level policy debates concerning election administration, economic development, and workforce education.

Early life and education

Jon Husted was born in Montpelier, Ohio, and was raised in the nearby city of Huber Heights. He attended Wayne High School, where he was a standout athlete in football and wrestling. Husted pursued higher education at the University of Dayton, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education. During his time at the University of Dayton, he was a member of the Flyers football team and developed an early interest in public service and community leadership.

Early political career

Husted began his political career as a legislative aide in the Ohio General Assembly before being appointed as the director of the Montgomery County Board of Elections. In 2000, he was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 37th district. His colleagues elected him Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives in 2005, succeeding Larry Householder. As Speaker, Husted worked closely with Governor Bob Taft and was involved in significant legislative efforts, including reforms to the state's workers' compensation system and various tax policy changes.

Ohio Secretary of State (2011–2019)

Elected Ohio Secretary of State in 2010, Husted took office in January 2011, succeeding Democrat Jennifer Brunner. His tenure was dominated by efforts to modernize election administration and ensure ballot integrity. He implemented the Ohio Online Voter Registration System and advocated for the bipartisan collaboration of the Ohio Association of Election Officials. Husted's office was also involved in legal disputes over early voting periods and legislative redistricting following the 2010 United States Census. He was re-elected in 2014, defeating Democratic challenger John Patrick Carney.

Lieutenant Governor of Ohio (2019–present)

In 2018, gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine selected Husted as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. The Republican ticket defeated the Democratic team of Richard Cordray and Betty Sutton in the 2018 Ohio gubernatorial election. As lieutenant governor, Husted also serves as the Director of the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation, focusing on aligning education with the needs of Ohio employers. He has been a key advocate for initiatives like TechCred and In-Demand Jobs Week, working with agencies such as the Ohio Department of Education and Ohio Department of Higher Education.

Political positions and policy initiatives

Husted is known for his focus on election security, economic development, and workforce readiness. As secretary of state, he supported voter identification requirements and the purging of inactive voter registrations, positions that often drew scrutiny from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union. In his current role, he champions the Innovate Ohio platform, aiming to streamline state services through technology. He has also been a vocal proponent of the One Columbus economic development organization and policies designed to attract businesses like Intel to the state.

Electoral history

In the 2000 Ohio House of Representatives election, Husted won his seat in the 37th district. He was elected without opposition as Speaker by his House colleagues in 2005. In the 2010 Ohio Secretary of State election, he defeated Democrat Maryellen O'Shaughnessy. He won re-election in the 2014 Ohio Secretary of State election against John Patrick Carney. Husted was elected Lieutenant Governor of Ohio as part of the DeWine ticket in the 2018 Ohio gubernatorial election, and the ticket was re-elected in the 2022 Ohio gubernatorial election, defeating the Democratic nominees Nan Whaley and Cheryl Stephens.

Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Lieutenant Governors of Ohio Category:Ohio Secretaries of State Category:Speakers of the Ohio House of Representatives Category:Ohio Republicans Category:University of Dayton alumni Category:People from Montpelier, Ohio Category:People from Huber Heights, Ohio