Ohio's thirty-first state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Jay Hottinger.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 403,786 civilians reside within Ohio's thirty-first state senate district. Ohio state senators represent an average of 349,591 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 344,035 residents.

About the office

Members of the Ohio State Senate serve four-year terms with term limits. Half of the Senate is up for re-election every two years. Ohio legislators assume office January 1st.

Qualifications

Article 2, Section 3 of the Ohio Constitution states: "Senators and representatives shall have resided in their respective districts one year next preceding their election, unless they shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this state."

Article 2, Section 5 of the Ohio Constitution states: "No person hereafter convicted of an embezzlement of the public funds, shall hold any office in this state; nor shall any person, holding public money for disbursement, or otherwise, have a seat in the General Assembly, until he shall have accounted for, and paid such money into the treasury."

Salaries

Term limits

The Ohio legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Ohio Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Ohio senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.

Vacancies

Whenever there is a vacancy in the senate, the members of the senate must vote on a replacement. Only members of the party that last held the seat can vote on a replacement. A simple majority vote is needed to approve a replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for March 17, 2020. The filing deadline was December 18, 2019.

2018

2014

Elections for the Ohio State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 5, 2014. John Carlisle was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Jay Hottinger was unopposed in the Republican primary. Carlisle was defeated by Hottinger in the general election.

Ohio State Senate, District 31 General Election, 2014

2010

Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate consisted of a primary election on May 4, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 18, 2010. Incumbent Tim Schaffer (R) defeated Dennis Lupher (D) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the May 4 primary elections.

Ohio State Senate, District 31, General Election, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Ohio State Senate District 31 raised a total of $1,795,788. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $163,253 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Ohio State Senate District 31