Ohio's fifty-first state house district is represented by Republican Representative Sara Carruthers.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 122,852 civilians reside within Ohio's fifty-first state house district. Ohio state representatives represent an average of 116,530 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 116,530 residents.

About the office

Members of the Ohio House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. Representatives may serve no more than four consecutive terms. 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 representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four two-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

If there is a vacancy in the house, the seat must be filled by an election conducted by House members. Also, the election can only be conducted by the same members of the political party that hold the seat. A simple majority vote is needed in order to approve a replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives 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

2016

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 16, 2015.

Incumbent Wes Retherford defeated Johnny Hamilton in the Ohio House of Representatives District 51 general election.

Ohio House of Representatives, District 51 General Election, 2016

Johnny Hamilton ran unopposed in the Ohio House of Representatives District 51 Democratic primary.

Ohio House of Representatives District 51, Democratic Primary, 2016

Incumbent Wes Retherford defeated Courtney Combs in the Ohio House of Representatives District 51 Republican primary.

Ohio House of Representatives District 51, Republican Primary, 2016

2014

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives 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. Michele DeCresce was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Wes Retherford defeated Greg Jolivette and Arnold Engel in the Republican primary. DeCresce withdrew from the race before the general election, and was replaced by Lucinda Greene. Retherford defeated Greene in the general election.

Ohio House of Representatives, District 51 General Election, 2014

Ohio House of Representatives, District 51 Republican Primary, 2014

2012

Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on March 6, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was December 7, 2011. Wes Retherford (R) defeated Mark N. Hardig (D) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the March 6 primary elections.

Ohio House of Representatives, District 51, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Ohio House of Representatives District 51 raised a total of $1,051,982. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $52,599 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Ohio House of Representatives District 51