Ohio's eighth state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Louis W. Blessing, III.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 337,451 civilians reside within Ohio's eighth 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.

2016

Elections for the Ohio State Senate 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 Bill Seitz (R) did not seek re-election.

Louis Terhar defeated Mary Rose Lierman in the Ohio State Senate District 8 general election.

Ohio State Senate, District 8 General Election, 2016

Mary Rose Lierman ran unopposed in the Ohio State Senate District 8 Democratic primary.

Ohio State Senate District 8, Democratic Primary, 2016

Louis Terhar ran unopposed in the Ohio State Senate District 8 Republican primary.

Ohio State Senate District 8, Republican Primary, 2016

2012

Elections for the office of Ohio State Senate 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. Incumbent Bill Seitz (R) defeated Richard G. Luken (D) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the March 6 primary elections.

Ohio State Senate, District 8, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2004 to 2016, candidates for Ohio State Senate District 8 raised a total of $1,403,714. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $155,968 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Ohio State Senate District 8