The alleged ringleader of what prosecutors have called the largest corruption scandal in Ohio history has been re-elected to a third term in the state legislature, unofficial results released Wednesday say.
Rep. Larry Householder won the seat unopposed, beating four write-in candidates.
Householder was indicted in July for allegedly taking part in a racketeering scandal to pass House Bill 6, a billion-dollar law that kept two financially troubled nuclear plants in the state from closing.
The scandal caused backlash and frustration across the state, but evidently not enough to mobilize voters to kick Householder out of office, or the legislature to repeal House Bill 6 — the alleged pay-to-play bailout legislation.
Although Householder didn’t receive many endorsements this election cycle — the Ohio Republican Party declined to endorse, as did the local governments of two counties he represents — he did receive one from his home county.
A Republican, Householder started his career in politics in 1996, holding office until 2004, when he was federally investigated for an alleged campaign finance embezzlement scheme. He wasn’t charged.
Whether Householder actually serves his full term remains to be seen. The state legislature could expel him with a supermajority two-thirds vote. Earlier this year, the legislature unanimously voted to remove him from his Speaker of the House position.
Householder says he is not guilty. Two political allies indicted alongside him in July pleaded guilty last week to corruption charges. They will have the opportunity to testify against Householder in court or cooperate with investigators but have not indicated that they will.
Meanwhile, In Illinois, another representative with a stake in nuclear power, incumbent Rep. Tom Demmer, was re-elected to a fifth term in Illinois’ 90th district.
Demmer launched a website in October to “save” the Exelon-owned Byron Generating Station in Ogle County, Illinois, a process that would likely involve more state bailouts. Exelon is already receiving $235 million per year in subsidies from the state of Illinois.
