- Lauren Cohen. In December, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes voted yes and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) voted no on two bills that regarded military actions involving Venezuela.
- Lauren Cohen. The Ohio Redistricting Commission unanimously passed a congressional map on Oct. 31. It gave Republicans the advantage in Ohio, 12-3.
- Lauren Cohen.
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, who represent Portage County residents, voted against each other on H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, on Sept. 19. The bill was created to fund the government short-term to prevent a government shutdown.
- Staff Report.
Some of Portage County’s legislators responded on social media, expressing sympathy or calling for action to end gun violence, after two children died and 21 people were wounded during a shooting on Aug. 27 in Minnesota.
- Staff Report.
Ohio House Reps. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) and Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) recently voted with the Republican majority to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a property tax provision in the state budget.
- Staff Report.
Ohio now has its fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law on July 1. Area representatives in the state House and Senate cast their votes along party lines, with not a single Democrat supporting it in either chamber.
- Staff Report.
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) have taken opposite stances on the Republicans’ federal budget reconciliation bill — dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Ohio State Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) is now engaged with a new opportunity, announcing he will run for Ohio Senate in the November 2026 special election.
With the passing of Ohio’s controversial Senate Bill 1, President Donald Trump’s continued executive orders and the age-old partisan divide, Portage County politicians didn’t let up in the statehouse or on social media in March.
Welcome to The Portager’s legislative round-up, which will regularly track what Portage County lawmakers are doing in Washington and in Columbus.
As the new congressional session started Jan. 3, state and federal representatives serving Portage County have begun legislation proposals and community outreach while doubling down on partisan positions in their messaging.
Welcome to the Portager’s legislative round-up, which will regularly track what Portage County lawmakers are doing in Washington and in Columbus.
A bill that would remove spousal exceptions from Ohio’s laws on rape and other sexual offenses has passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Mike DeWine.
Ohio’s U.S. senators split on a foreign aid package that will be key to sending weapons and equipment to war-torn Ukraine this week.
Portage County’s representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives joined the majority Jan. 31 in passing a bipartisan tax package that would include a child tax credit expansion.
Portage County’s state representatives joined their Republican colleagues Jan. 10 in overriding Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of the bill that bans gender-affirming care and restricts transgender students’ participation in sports.
Voters passed Issue 2 in the general election, so 30 days later — Dec. 7 — it technically became legal to possess, grow and buy recreational marijuana in Ohio.
Welcome to our legislative round-up! Twice a month, we’ll give you an update on what Portage County lawmakers are doing in Washington and in Columbus. This round-up will include information on the various bills your representatives are voting on, as well as how they’re voting.