Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) submitted his resignation to the U.S. House of Representatives, effective January 21st.

The Ohio Republican will take over as Youngstown State University president.

WFMJ reports:

Valley Congressman and incoming Youngstown State University President Bill Johnson will begin his new job as YSU President beginning January 22.

According to a message sent out to YSU’s community by Trustee Chairman Michael Peterson, Johnson has submitted his resignation from Congress on Tuesday and his term as Congressman will end January 21 with him taking his position as University President the following day.

This is earlier than his projected date of March 15.

Prior to his appointment as President, Johnson will continue visiting campus as often as possible visiting with students, faculty and staff.

“Bill brings a commitment to advancing our institution’s mission, and we eagerly anticipate the contributions he and his wife LeeAnn will make to our community,” Peterson said.

In his resignation letter sent to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Johnson described the residents of his district as “proud and patriotic,” but disregarded by America’s “elites.”

Republicans have an extremely narrow majority in the House of Representatives.

The abrupt retirement of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shrank the Republican House majority further heading into 2024.

From the Associated Press:

House Speaker Mike Johnson’s margin for error in getting Republican priorities through the House is getting slimmer, complicating future votes and magnifying the ability of individual lawmakers to force concessions.

Republicans had just a 222-213 margin before Rep. George Santos of New York was expelled in a broad, bipartisan vote a week ago. Then, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California announced Thursday he would be retiring at the end of the month. He was the first speaker ever booted from the position, a victim of a process he had agreed to implement that allowed just a few defections from within the GOP ranks to oust him.

The margins before both representatives’ exits allowed Republicans to lose up to four votes on a party-line ballot and still get a bill over the finish line, assuming every lawmaker was in attendance.

Now that margin is down to three votes. It could even drop to two if Democrats flip the Santos seat in a special election set for Feb. 13, which would leave their majority at 220-214.

Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, is also expected to leave to begin a new job as president of Youngstown State University. It’s unclear when he’ll begin that job, but it’s no later than March 15.

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.