GOP’s Rulli wins Ohio special election to fill former Rep. Bill Johnson’s seat

Ohio voters picked Republican Michael Rulli to fill the vacancy left by retired Rep. Bill Johnson (R-S.C.) in the 6th Congressional District, Decision Desk HQ reports. 

Rulli, an Ohio state senator, was favored to win the seat in the red district after advancing from the March primary alongside Democrat Michael Kripchak. However, the race — which saw low turnout — proved to be closer than many expected.

His win adds another Trump ally to Republicans’ numbers in the House. 

Johnson served in Congress for over a decade before exiting in January to lead Youngstown State University, shrinking the GOP’s thin majority and leaving a monthslong vacancy in his place. 

Heading into Tuesday’s special election, Kripchak’s campaign was in an uphill battle against a Trump ally in a district the former president won back in 2020. 

They’ll go against each other again in the fall when they compete for a full two-year term – but a forecast from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill puts Rulli with a 99 percent chance of winning against his Democrat rival.