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Ohio, State House, District 47

Ohio House of Representatives District 47
Current incumbentDerek Merrin Republican Party
Population102,904
Ethnicity16.85% Black (Voting-Age), 8.26% Hispanic (Voting-Age)
Voting age75.17% age 18 and over

Ohio's forty-seventh state house district is represented by Republican Representative Derek Merrin.

As of the 2010 census, a total of 102,904 civilians reside within Ohio's forty-seventh 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

State legislators
SalaryPer diem
$60,584/yearNo per diem is paid.

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

General election
General election for Ohio House of Representatives District 47

Incumbent Derek Merrin (R) defeated Gary Newnham (D) in the general election for Ohio House of Representatives District 47 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Derek Merrin (R)
58.0
29,476

Gary Newnham (D)
42.0
21,377

Total votes: 50,853
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 47

Gary Newnham advanced from the Democratic primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 47 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Gary Newnham (D)
100
4,188

Total votes: 4,188
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 47

Incumbent Derek Merrin defeated Barbara Lang in the Republican primary for Ohio House of Representatives District 47 on May 8, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes

Derek Merrin (R)
64.6
5,431

Barbara Lang (R)
35.4
2,981

Total votes: 8,412


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 Barbara Sears (R) resigned from the state House before the end of her term. Derek Merrin (R) was appointed to her seat.

Incumbent Derek Merrin defeated Lauri Cooper in the Ohio House of Representatives District 47 general election.

Ohio House of Representatives, District 47 General Election, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Derek Merrin Incumbent 60.85% 36,446
Democratic Lauri Cooper 39.15% 23,449
Total Votes 59,895
Source: Ohio Secretary of State

Michael Sarantou ran unopposed in the Ohio House of Representatives District 47 Democratic primary.

Ohio House of Representatives District 47, Democratic Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Michael Sarantou (unopposed) 100.00% 7,705
Total Votes 7,705

Derek Merrin defeated Vicki Donovan-Lyle and Kevin Haddad in the Ohio House of Representatives District 47 Republican primary.

Ohio House of Representatives District 47, Republican Primary, 2016

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.png Derek Merrin 45.52% 8,765
Republican Vicki Donovan-Lyle 29.87% 5,751
Republican Kevin Haddad 24.61% 4,739
Total Votes 19,255


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. Incumbent Barbara Sears defeated Scott Allegrini in the Republican primary and was unchallenged in the general election.

Ohio House of Representatives, District 47 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. Incumbent Barbara Sears (R) defeated Jeff Bunck (D) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the March 6 primary elections.

Ohio House of Representatives, District 47, General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Green check mark transparent.pngBarbara Sears Incumbent 60% 35,636
Democratic Jeff Bunck 40% 23,748
Total Votes 59,384

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Ohio House of Representatives District 47 raised a total of $1,798,199. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $78,183 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Ohio House of Representatives District 47

Year Amount Candidates Average
2016 $297,423 5 $59,485
2014 $472,736 2 $236,368
2012 $444,307 2 $222,154
2010 $138,586 4 $34,647
2008 $77,043 1 $77,043
2006 $62,589 2 $31,295
2004 $88,016 3 $29,339
2002 $160,801 2 $80,401
2000 $56,698 2 $28,349
Total $1,798,199 23 $78,183