Troy Balderson

Troy Balderson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 12th district
Incumbent
Assumed office September 5, 2018
Preceded by	Pat Tiberi
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 20th district
In office July 13, 2011 – September 5, 2018
Preceded by	Jimmy Stewart
Succeeded by	Brian Hill
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 94th district
In office January 5, 2009 – July 13, 2011
Preceded by	Jim Aslanides
Succeeded by	Brian Hill
Personal details
Born	William Troy Balderson (1962-01-16) January 16, 1962 (age 62) Zanesville, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Angela Mattingly ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 2014)​
Children	1
Website	House website

William Troy Balderson (born January 16, 1962)^[1] is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative from Ohio's 12th congressional district since 2018. He served as an Ohio state senator representing the 20th district from 2011 until his election to Congress. A member of the Republican Party, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011.

Early life and education

Born and raised in southeastern Ohio, Balderson graduated from Zanesville High School in 1980 and attended both Muskingum College and the Ohio State University, but did not graduate. He lives in Zanesville.^[2]

Early career

Balderson started working for his family's car business, Balderson Motor Sales, as a mechanic while a college student.^[3] He was vice president and general manager of the company from 1987 to 2008,^[4] the third generation of his family to run the business;^[5] his father had been in charge for a half-century.^[6] In financial disclosure statements, Balderson said he had no income from the car company since 2008;^[3] the company closed in February 2018.^[7]

Ohio General Assembly

House

When incumbent Jim Aslanides became term-limited, Balderson sought the Republican nomination for state representative of the 94th Ohio House District. He won the March 2008 primary with 67.6% of the vote.^[8] In the November general election, Balderson won with 54.01% of the vote.^[9]

Balderson ran unopposed for reelection in 2010.^[10] While a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, he was on the House Finance Committee and chaired the Subcommittee on Agriculture and Natural Resources. In early 2010, Balderson proposed legislation that would subject Ohio Medicaid recipients to random drug tests in order to receive state benefits.^[11]

Senate

In late May 2011, State Senator Jimmy Stewart announced that he planned to resign his seat in the 20th Senate District as of June 30, the end of the fiscal year.^[12] Stewart continued his service as majority floor leader until he resigned.^[13]

On July 12, 2011, Senate President Tom Niehaus announced that Balderson would be appointed to the vacant Senate seat. He was sworn into office on July 13, 2011. On November 6, 2012, Balderson won a full four-year Senate term, defeating Democrat Teresa Scarmack with 59.79% of the vote.^[14]

Balderson was selected in 2014 as co-chair of a special legislative committee to review Ohio's renewable energy and energy efficiency regulations,^[15] and chaired the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

In 2016, Balderson ran unopposed for reelection. Because of term limits, he was ineligible to run again in 2020. He decided to run for Congress, to represent Ohio's 12th congressional district.

Committee assignments

• Energy and Natural Resources (chair)
• Finance
• Government Oversight & Reform
• Public Utilities
• Finance Subcommittee on Primary & Secondary Education
• Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review

U.S. House of Representatives

Balderson being sworn into office by Speaker Paul Ryan on September 5, 2018

Elections

2018 special

Main article: 2018 Ohio's 12th congressional district special election

Balderson was the Republican nominee for Ohio's 12th congressional district in an August 7, 2018 special election triggered by the January 2018 resignation of Representative Pat Tiberi.^[16] He narrowly won the May Republican primary, with 20,101 votes (29.2%) to second-place finisher Melanie Leneghan's 19,437. Leneghan sued, asking to be declared the winner because of voting irregularities. The Ohio Supreme Court dismissed her suit in August 2018.^[17]

In the August election, Balderson faced Democratic nominee Danny O'Connor. On election night, the results were too close to call; Balderson was officially certified as the winner on August 24. After the remaining absentee and provisional ballots were counted, Balderson won by 1,680 votes (0.8%),^[18][19] and was sworn into office on September 5.

2018 general

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio § District 12

In the November general election, Balderson defeated O'Connor in a rematch of the district's August special election, with 51.6% of the vote to O'Connor's 47.1%.^[20]

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio § District 12

Balderson sought reelection and defeated the Democratic nominee, businesswoman Alaina Shearer,^[21] with 55.2% of the vote to Shearer's 41.8%.^[22]

Tenure

On July 19, 2022, Balderson voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would protect the right to gay marriage at a federal level.^[23][24]

Balderson voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.^[25][26]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Oversight
  • Subcommittee on Research and Technology
• Committee on Small Business
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade
  • Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access

Caucus memberships^[27]

• Republican Governance Group^[28]
• Republican Study Committee^[29]
• Republican Main Street Partnership^[30]
• House Automotive Caucus
• Congressional Motorcycle Caucus
• General Aviation Caucus
• Air Cargo Caucus
• Suburban Caucus
• Vision Caucus
• CTE Caucus
• Apprenticeship Caucus
• Smart Cities Caucus
• Community Health Centers Caucus
• Beef Caucus
• Taiwan Caucus
• Travel & Tourism Caucus
• Congressional Appalachian National Scenic Trail Caucus
• Congressional Grid Innovation Caucus
• Congressional Ohio River Basin Caucus
• Congressional Rural Caucus
• Congressional Second Amendment Caucus
• Congressional Small Business Caucus
• Auto Performance & Motorsports Caucus
• Congressional Motorsports Caucus
• Community College Caucus
• Auto Care Caucus
• Army Caucus
• Boating Caucus
• ALS Caucus
• Civility & Respect Caucus
• Manufacturing Caucus
• Congressional Study Group on Japan (FMC)
• Caucus on the Deadliest Cancers
• Franchise Caucus
• Veterans Education Caucus
• USO Caucus
• Appalachian National Scenic Trail Caucus
• Congressional Agritourism Caucus
• Macedonian American Caucus
• Women in STEM Caucus
• Congenital Heart Disease Congressional Caucus
• Cut Flower Caucus
• Congressional Telehealth Caucus
• Congressional Critical Materials Caucus
• Defense Industrial Base Caucus

Personal life

Balderson and his ex-wife Angela have a son. They divorced in 2014.^[31]

Electoral history

Election results
Year	Office	Election	Votes for Balderson	%	Opponent	Party	Votes	%
2008	Ohio House of Representatives	General	27,917	54%	Jennifer Stewart	Democratic	23,628	46%
2010		Primary	28,236	100%	Unopposed
2012	Ohio Senate	General	87,755	60%	Teresa Scarmack	Democratic	59,012	40%
2016		Primary	48,059	100%	Unopposed
2018	United States House of Representatives	Special	101,772	50%	Danny O'Connor	Democratic	100,208	49%
2018		General	171,757	51.6%	Danny O'Connor	Democratic	156,863	47.1%
2020		General	241,790	55.2%	Alaina Shearer	Democratic	182,847	41.8%
2022		General	191,344	69.3%	Amy Rippel-Elton	Democratic	84,893	30.7%

References

1. United States Congress. "Troy Balderson (id: B001306)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
2. "Troy Balderson profile". Ohio Senate. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2012.
3. Ludlow, Randy. "Troy Balderson family company failed to pay taxes on time". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
4. "Troy Balderson's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
5. "Troy Balderson profile". Zanesville Times Recorder. August 15, 2007.
6. Schultz, Shelly. "AG brings legal action against Balderson Motor Sales owner". Zanesville Times Recorder. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
7. Schultz, Shelly. "AG investigating defunct Balderson Motors for fraud". Zanesville Times Recorder. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
8. Ohio Secretary of State, 2008 primary election results Archived December 27, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
9. Brunner, Jennifer 2008 general election results Archived September 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (November 4, 2008)
10. Brunner, Jennifer. "Ohio Secretary of State". Retrieved December 17, 2012.
11. Glenn, Brandon (February 17, 2010). "Ohio House proposal would require random drug tests for Medicaid eligibility". MedCity News. Retrieved February 17, 2010.
12. Richards, Holly (May 25, 2011). "Sen. Jimmy Stewart resigning from Senate seat". Coshocton Tribune. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
13. Hershey, Bill (May 27, 2011). "State Sen. Stewart, number three leader, to resign". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
14. Husted, John. "Ohio Secretary of State". Retrieved December 17, 2012.
15. "Ohio utility chief: Energy savings hard to measure". Akron Beacon Journal. Akron. November 25, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
16. "Balderson retains GOP hold on open House seat in Ohio". POLITICO. August 24, 2018. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
17. Pelzer, Jeremy (August 23, 2018). "Ohio Supreme Court throws out lawsuit challenging Troy Balderson's 12th District victory". cleveland. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
18. "Balderson retains GOP hold on open House seat in Ohio". POLITICO. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
19. Wehrman, Jessica (August 24, 2018). "Balderson wins Ohio's 12th congressional district election". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
20. "Ohio Election Results: 12th House District". New York Times. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
21. "Delaware County Businesswoman Enters 12th District Congressional Race". WOSU Public Media. October 25, 2019.
22. "2020 OFFICIAL ELECTIONS RESULTS". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
23. Bobic, Igor (June 19, 2022). "These 157 House Republicans Voted Against Protections For Same-Sex Marriage".
24. Lai, Stephanie (June 20, 2022). "House Moves to Protect Same-Sex Marriage From Supreme Court Reversal". The New York Times.
25. Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
26. Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
27. "Committees and Caucuses | U.S. Congressman Troy Balderson". balderson.house.gov. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
28. "Kinzinger, Republican Governance Group Members Call on President Biden to Reject Partisan Efforts and Advance Bipartisan COVID Relief". Congressman Adam Kinzinger. February 3, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
29. "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
30. "MEMBERS". RMSP. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
31. Laviola, Erin (August 7, 2018). "Troy Balderson Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

External links

• Congressional website
• Campaign website
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Ohio House of Representatives
Preceded by Jim Aslanides	Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 94th district 2009–2011	Succeeded by Brian Hill
Ohio Senate
Preceded by Jimmy Stewart	Member of the Ohio Senate from the 20th district 2011–2018	Succeeded by Brian Hill
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Pat Tiberi	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 12th congressional district 2018–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Michael Cloud	United States representatives by seniority 217th	Succeeded by Kevin Hern