Elliot Forhan
Elliot Forhan | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 21st district | |
| In office January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Kent Smith |
| Succeeded by | Eric Synenberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 16, 1985 Athens, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Kenyon College (BA) Yale University (JD) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Elliot Forhan (born November 16, 1985)[1] is an attorney and non-profit executive who served in the Ohio House of Representatives during the 135th General Assembly (2023–2024). He represented the 21st district in Cuyahoga County.
Early life and education
[edit]After graduating from high school, Forhan earned an undergraduate degree in 2008 from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He then earned attended Yale Law School, where he earned a JD in 2013.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Until leaving to work for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign, Forhan worked as an attorney in the Cleveland office of BakerHostetler. He had previously worked for Governor Ted Strickland and State Treasurer Richard Cordray. In addition to his current law practice, which he operates as a solo practitioner, Forhan serves as general counsel for a non-profit organization focused on patent law.[2][3][user-generated source?] On February 27, 2025, Forhan announced his intention to run for Ohio Attorney General in 2026.[4]
Ohio House of Representatives
[edit]Election
[edit]Forhan was elected in the general election on November 8, 2022, winning 73.4 percent of the vote over 26.6 percent of Republican candidate Kelly Powell[5]
On March 19, 2024, Forhan came in third place behind Eric Synenberg and Angel Washington for the Democratic Primary election. He received 12.02% of the total vote.
Controversies
[edit]In June 2023, Forhan came to the home of Representative Juanita Brent unannounced with the stated purpose of discussing complaints levied against him to House Democratic leadership by local labor groups. Brent characterized the visit as "inappropriate" and "upsetting." Following this incident, Forhan was removed from his position as ranking member of the House Government Oversight Committee.[6][7] Brent also filed a civil protection order against Forhan.[8] On November 16, 2023, Russo announced that she was stripping Forhan of his committee assignments and access to House Democratic caucus staff for displaying a "continued pattern of harassment, hostility, and intimidation of colleagues and staff." This decision was made following a confrontation with Representative Munira Abdullahi over a video that Forhan had posted online regarding a request from caucus staff to remove an Israeli flag that he had placed outside of his office door.[7]
On November 20, 2023, House Speaker Jason Stephens announced that he was suspending Forhan's badge access to the Ohio Statehouse and the Vern Riffe Center, where the offices of state representatives are located. Dave Yost, the Ohio Attorney General, appointed a special counsel to investigate Forhan's behavior at Stephens's request.[9] The Ohio Attorney General found the legislature's punishment to be appropriate.[10] In April 2024, the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas found that Brent failed to prove that Forhan knowingly engaged in a pattern of conduct that caused her to believe that she would be physically harmed or caused mental distress.[10]
Personal life
[edit]Forhan is the son of two women whose wedding he officiated after the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.[2]
Election results
[edit]| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Elliot Forhan | 28,311 | 73.4% | Kelly Powell | 10,260 | 26.6% |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Elliot Forhan". Gongwer News Service–Ohio. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Jonathan Holody in the 21st Ohio House District Democratic primary Aug. 2: endorsement editorial". cleveland.com. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
- ^ "Elliot Forhan". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
- ^ "Former state rep from Northeast Ohio running in Democratic primary for Ohio attorney general". cleveland.com. 27 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ^ "2022 Ohio State House - District 21 Election Results". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
- ^ "Northeast Ohio lawmaker removed from Democratic caucus for 'abusive behavior'". News 5 Cleveland WEWS. 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ a b Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland com (2023-11-16). "South Euclid state lawmaker under fire following latest Ohio Statehouse confrontation". cleveland. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ "'Concerned for my safety' — State Rep. Brent says she filed civil protection order against Rep. Forhan". News 5 Cleveland WEWS. 2023-11-21. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
- ^ "Ohio House speaker calls for investigation into Democrat accused of hostile behavior". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ a b Trau, Morgan (April 12, 2024). "'Exonerated' — Ohio judge removes lawmaker's protection order against Rep. Elliot Forhan". Ohio Capital Journal. States Newsroom. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
