Speaker Huffman's 2024 Candidate Investments
Every candidate who received near-maximum or maximum contributions from Huffman's committee, their committee assignments, and their legislative activity in the final session week.
Overview
During the 2024 election cycle, Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman’s candidate campaign committee (MATT HUFFMAN FOR OHIO, master_key 10592) made contributions and in-kind expenditures to 20 individual candidate committees totaling $10,000 or more each. After the November 2024 election, Huffman became Speaker of the 136th General Assembly and appointed all committee chairs and vice chairs in January 2025.
This document maps every candidate who received near-maximum or maximum investments ($14,999+) from Huffman’s committee, their current status, committee assignments, and legislative activity in the final week of the first-half session (June 8-10, 2026).
Ohio’s candidate-to-candidate contribution cap: $15,499.69
Source for all financial data: Ohio Secretary of State Campaign Finance Database. Committee: MATT HUFFMAN FOR OHIO (master_key 10592). 2024 PRE-GENERAL and POST-GENERAL expenditure filings.
Verify: ohiosos.gov/campaign-finance → search “MATT HUFFMAN FOR OHIO” → Expenditures → 2024 filings
Section 1: Currently Serving Members Who Received Maximum or Near-Maximum Investment
Rep. Heidi Workman (R) — District 72, Rootstown
Huffman investment: $30,999.38 (highest individual recipient among sitting members)
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 4, 2024 | $15,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
| May 2, 2024 | $500.00 | In-kind (data) | PRE-GENERAL |
| May 28, 2024 | $308.60 | Event expenses | PRE-GENERAL |
| Aug. 19, 2024 | $14,691.09 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Status: Freshman (first elected 2024)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Technology and Innovation — Vice Chair
- Government Oversight — Member
- Natural Resources — Member
- Workforce and Higher Education — Member
- Joint Data Center Committee — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- Co-sponsor, HJR 9 (voter ID constitutional amendment) — at 3rd hearing in General Government Committee
- Joint Data Center Committee — Select Committee met Jun 2 and Jun 5
Rep. Jim Thomas (R) — District 49, Jackson Township
Huffman investment: $30,499.38
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 8, 2024 | $15,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
| May 28, 2024 | $308.60 | Event expenses | PRE-GENERAL |
| Aug. 19, 2024 | $14,691.09 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Note: Contributions filed under two committee name variants (“JIM THOMAS FOR OHIO HOUSE OF REP” and “JIM THOMAS FOR OH HOUSE OF REP”).
Status: Second term (first elected 2022)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Judiciary — Chair
- Education — Member
- Finance — Member
- Ways and Means — Member
June 10 legislative activity (chairing 7 bills through Judiciary):
- HB 314 (Isaacsohn-Ray) — Limit certain public record requests — 5th hearing, *PV (vote likely)
- HB 345 — Voyeurism — *PV
- HB 528 — Rape sentencing — *PV *PA
- HB 421 — Statute of limitations, sex offenses
- HB 102 — Gus Frangos Act
- Plus additional bills through committee
Rep. Mike Dovilla (R) — District 17, Berea
Huffman investment: $15,499.69
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2024 | $500.00 | In-kind (data) | PRE-GENERAL |
| Oct. 18, 2024 | $14,999.69 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Status: Returning member (previously served 2011-2016, 129th-131st GAs; Majority Whip; re-elected 2024 after 8-year absence)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Finance — Vice Chair
- Energy — Member
- Redistricting — Member
- Veterans and Military Development — Member
- Workforce and Higher Education — Member
- Conference Committee on HB 96 — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- HB 795 (SHIELD Act) — Authored substitute amendments accepted Jun 3 (family caregiver ban, EVV requirements, biometric mandates); those provisions stripped in Jun 8 substitute (l_136_3280-5) and replaced with expanded MCO authority, deferred enforcement infrastructure, and provisions not previously subject to public hearing
- HB 711 (Dovilla-Ritter) — Minimum teacher salary — *PV — reported out of Education Committee
- HB 645 (Dovilla) — Zero-based budgeting — *PV — reported out of Finance Committee
- HCR 32 (Dovilla) — Zero-based budgeting resolution — reported out of Finance Committee
- HB 775 (Callender-Dovilla) — State agency administrative rules — 1st hearing Jun 2
- HB 138 — Tourism promotion districts — *PA
- Jun 4: Testified before U.S. House Oversight Committee Task Force on Ohio Medicaid waiver fraud alongside Auditor Faber and Daily Wire reporter Rosiak (oversight.house.gov hearing wrap-up)
Rep. Brian Stewart (R) — District 12, Ashville
Huffman investment: $15,808.29
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 7, 2024 | $15,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
| May 28, 2024 | $308.60 | Event expenses | PRE-GENERAL |
Status: Third term (first elected 2020)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Finance — Chair
- Health — Member
- Judiciary — Member
- Medicaid — Member
- Redistricting — Member
- Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting — Member
- Conference Committee on HB 96 — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- HB 959 (Stewart) — Capital Appropriations FY27-28 — 1st hearing Jun 2; introduced and referred
- HB 795 — Finance Committee fiscal authority over Medicaid restructuring
- HB 441 (Stewart) — Libel/slander — *PV
- Finance Committee reported out HB 645, HCR 32 (both Dovilla)
Rep. Josh Williams (R) — District 44, Sylvania Township
Huffman investment: $15,499.69
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2024 | $500.00 | In-kind (data) | PRE-GENERAL |
| Oct. 17, 2024 | $14,999.69 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Status: Second term (first elected 2022)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Finance — Member
- Energy — Member
- Judiciary — Member
- Medicaid — Member
- Rules and Reference — Member
- Workforce and Higher Education — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- HB 795 (Williams) — SHIELD Act — Bill sponsor. Six Medicaid Committee hearings from May 27 to Jun 9. Two substitutes accepted: Jun 3 (Dovilla amendments adding family caregiver ban, enhanced penalties, EVV/biometric mandates) and Jun 8 (stripping those provisions, adding expanded MCO authority and deferred enforcement infrastructure). Committee vote expected Jun 9. Williams introduced the bill before the Daily Wire report; the substitute versions were shaped after the fraud narrative launched.
Rep. Tex Fischer (R) — District 59, Canfield
Huffman investment: $15,499.69
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 2, 2024 | $15,499.69 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Status: Freshman (first elected 2024)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Natural Resources — Vice Chair
- Commerce and Labor — Member
- Development — Member
- Energy — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- HB 264 (Fischer-Mathews) — “Prohibit certain publications during 30 days before an election” — 2nd hearing Jun 2, *PA
Rep. Beth Lear (R) — District 61, Galena
Huffman investment: $15,999.69
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2024 | $15,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
| Sep. 13, 2024 | $500.00 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Status: Second term (first elected 2022)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Commerce and Labor — Vice Chair
- Energy — Member
- Government Oversight — Member
- Ways and Means — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- HCR 35 (Lear) — Urges Congress to reform federal permitting for energy infrastructure — *PV — reported out of Energy Committee
Rep. Adam Mathews (R) — District 56, Lebanon
Huffman investment: $15,499.69
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 4, 2024 | $15,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
Status: Second term (first elected 2022)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Energy — Vice Chair
- Arts, Athletics, and Tourism — Member
- Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review — Member
- Judiciary — Member
- Public Insurance and Pensions — Member
- Redistricting — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- HB 264 (Fischer-Mathews) — “Prohibit certain publications during 30 days before an election” — 2nd hearing Jun 2, *PA
- HB 185 (Mathews) — Deepfakes/persona — *PV *PA
- HB 865 (Mathews) — Adoptable children — *PA
Rep. Mark Hiner (R) — District 98, Howard
Huffman investment: $15,499.69
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 13, 2024 | $15,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
Status: Freshman (first elected 2024)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Arts, Athletics, and Tourism — Vice Chair
- Agriculture — Member
- Natural Resources — Member
- Small Business — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- HB 284 (Hiner-E. White) — Require U.S. iron/steel in state-funded projects — reported out of Development Committee, *PV *PA
Rep. Jodi Salvo (R) — District 51, Bolivar
Huffman investment: $18,499.69
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 5, 2024 | $15,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
| May 2, 2024 | $500.00 | In-kind (data) | PRE-GENERAL |
| Jul. 17, 2024 | $2,500.00 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Status: Freshman (first elected 2024)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Children and Human Services — Vice Chair
- Community Revitalization — Member
- Energy — Member
- Natural Resources — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- HB 718 (Brownlee-Salvo) — Change name of Chemical Dependency Professionals Board — reported out of Community Revitalization Committee
Rep. Brian Lorenz (R) — District 60, Powell
Huffman investment: $15,499.69
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2024 | $500.00 | In-kind (data) | PRE-GENERAL |
| Oct. 17, 2024 | $14,999.69 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Status: Appointed May 2023 to fill vacancy; elected in own right Nov 2024 (effectively 2nd term)
Committee assignments under Huffman:
- Development — Vice Chair
- Energy — Member
- Insurance — Member
- Transportation — Member
June 10 legislative activity:
- No bills with PV/PA flags identified in the Week of June 1 committee schedule
Section 2: Candidates Who Received Maximum Investment But Are Not Currently Serving
Six of the candidates who received Huffman’s maximum contribution lost their 2024 races or are running in 2026.
| Candidate | Committee Name | Huffman Investment | Race | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephanie Kunze | Citizens for Kunze | $15,499.69 | OH House Dist. 11 (2024) | Lost general election (former State Senator, SD-16, 2017-2024) |
| Gina Collinsworth | Committee to Elect Gina Collinsworth | $15,499.69 | OH House Dist. 90 (2024) | Lost Republican primary to incumbent Justin Pizzulli |
| Brian Garvine | Friends of Brian Garvine | $15,999.69 | OH House Dist. 10 (2024) | Lost general election to Mark Sigrist |
| Wezlynn Davis | Friends of Wezlynn Davis | $15,499.69 | OH House Dist. 86 (2026) | Running in 2026 Republican primary; not yet in office |
| Sally Culling | Sally Culling for Ohio | $15,499.69 | OH House Dist. 75 (2024) | Lost Republican primary to incumbent Haraz Ghanbari |
| Jenn Giroux | Giroux for Ohio | $15,499.69 | OH House Dist. 28 (2024) | Lost general election to Karen Brownlee |
Total Huffman investment in candidates who did not win: $93,497.45
These investments reflect Huffman’s effort to expand his caucus alignment before the speakership vote. Not all produced sitting legislators.
Section 3: Additional High-Investment Recipients (Above $14,999)
These members received large Huffman contributions but were not on the original max-contribution list. They hold committee chairs relevant to June 10 legislation.
Rep. Andrea White (R) — District 41, Kettering
Huffman investment: $20,999.38
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 8, 2024 | $5,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
| May 2, 2024 | $500.00 | In-kind (data) | PRE-GENERAL |
| Aug. 22, 2024 | $14,999.69 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Committee assignment under Huffman: Children and Human Services — Chair
Rep. Bill Roemer (R) — District 38, Richfield
Huffman investment: $20,499.38
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 8, 2024 | $5,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
| Aug. 5, 2024 | $14,999.69 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Committee assignment under Huffman: Ways and Means — Chair
Rep. Jack Daniels (R) — District 96, Uhrichsville
Huffman investment: $20,999.38
| Date | Amount | Type | SoS Filing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 8, 2024 | $5,499.69 | Contribution | PRE-GENERAL |
| May 2, 2024 | $500.00 | In-kind (data) | PRE-GENERAL |
| Aug. 5, 2024 | $5,000.00 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
| Sep. 26, 2024 | $9,999.69 | Contribution | POST-GENERAL |
Committee assignments: Not a committee chair. The Rooster’s public records reporting (Jul 14, 2025) found Signal messaging app graphics in Daniels’s text messages obtained via records request.
Section 4: Timeline
2024
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2024 | First max contribution: $15,499.69 to Beth Lear | Ohio SoS, PRE-GENERAL filing |
| Feb. 7 – Mar. 8, 2024 | Huffman contributes $15,499.69 each to Stewart, Garvine, Hiner, Workman, Collinsworth, Mathews, Thomas, Davis, Culling, Salvo, Fischer | Ohio SoS, PRE-GENERAL filing |
| May 2, 2024 | $500 in-kind “DATA” contributions to 7 candidates (Dovilla, Williams, Lorenz, Garvine, Salvo, Workman, Daniels) | Ohio SoS, PRE-GENERAL filing |
| Aug. – Oct. 2024 | Second-round contributions: $14,691-$14,999 each to Thomas, Workman, Dovilla, Williams, Lorenz, White, Roemer, Daniels, Giroux, Fischer, Kunze | Ohio SoS, POST-GENERAL filing |
| Nov. 5, 2024 | General election. 11 of the 17 candidates above win seats. Kunze, Collinsworth, Garvine, Culling, Giroux lose. Davis runs in 2026. | Ohio Secretary of State election results |
| Nov. 2024 | Huffman elected Speaker by Republican caucus, unopposed. Stephens drops speakership bid two days before vote. | AP / 10TV, Nov. 19, 2024; WOUB, Nov. 25, 2024 |
January 2025
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 14, 2025 | Huffman announces all committee chairs and vice chairs. Every sitting max-contribution recipient receives a vice chair or chair appointment. Stephens (who received $0 from Huffman across 20 years) receives zero committee leadership. | Statehouse News Bureau, Jan 14, 2025 |
| Jan. 2025 | Stewart appointed Finance Chair. Dovilla appointed Finance Vice Chair + 4 additional committees. Jim Thomas appointed Judiciary Chair. Williams assigned to Medicaid, Finance, and Rules and Reference. | ohiohouse.gov committee listings |
May – June 2026 (HB 795 sequence)
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2026 | Daily Wire publishes report alleging widespread Ohio Medicaid fraud. Huffman responds same day: “The buck stops with him.” | Statehouse News Bureau, May 13 |
| May 15, 2026 | The Rooster reports that JMOC (Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee) was eliminated in HB 96 budget negotiations (Jun 2025), citing Bloomberg Law. | The Rooster, May 15 |
| May 19, 2026 | Ramaswamy, Huffman, McColley, and Faber hold joint press conference on Medicaid fraud. Blame DeWine. | Statehouse News Bureau, May 19 |
| May 19, 2026 | Morgan Trau (WEWS) confronts Huffman on camera: “If there is fraud, how are you not responsible?” Huffman defends JMOC elimination. | WEWS News 5 Cleveland, May 19 |
| May 20, 2026 | Huffman expands Medicaid Committee by 5 members. Three new Republican appointees (Williams, Dovilla, Stewart) all received his maximum contribution. | NBC4, May 20 |
| May 20, 2026 | DeWine responds: 2,378 indictments, 2,216 convictions, $645M recovered since 2011. “The one bill I vetoed would have prohibited us from using GPS coordinates to check on fraud.” | Statehouse News Bureau, May 20 |
| May 22, 2026 | Heartland Signal reports McColley helped end Ohio’s Medicaid oversight while Ramaswamy vows fraud crackdown. | Heartland Signal, May 22 |
| May 27, 2026 | First HB 795 (Williams) committee hearing, Medicaid Committee. | Ohio House Medicaid Committee schedule |
| May 28, 2026 | Dayton Daily News covers HB 795 provisions. | Dayton Daily News, May 28 |
| Jun. 2, 2026 | 3rd hearing, HB 795, proponent testimony. | Ohio House Medicaid Committee schedule |
| Jun. 3, 2026 | 4th hearing, HB 795. Substitute bill accepted (Dovilla amendments). Adds family caregiver ban, enhanced felony penalties, SNAP eligibility restrictions, prior authorization for behavioral health. | Ohio House Medicaid Committee schedule; Ohio Capital Journal, May 21 (describes substitute process) |
| Jun. 4, 2026 | Federal “war on fraud” event at Defense Supply Center Columbus. Present: Acting AG Blanche, FBI Dir. Patel, CMS Admin Oz, SBA Admin Loeffler, FTC Chair Ferguson, Speaker Huffman, Auditor Faber, Treasurer Sprague, SoS LaRose, AG Yost. Gov. DeWine not present. | WOSU, Jun 4 |
| Jun. 4, 2026 | Dovilla testifies before U.S. House Oversight Committee Task Force alongside Faber and Daily Wire reporter Rosiak on Ohio Medicaid fraud. | U.S. House Oversight Committee, Jun 4; Hearing wrap-up, Jun 5 |
| Jun. 4, 2026 | Disability advocates pack Medicaid Committee hearing. Justin Martin: “Start with the taxpayers who can’t shower and dress themselves.” | Statehouse News Bureau, Jun 4; Dayton Daily News, Jun 4 |
| Jun. 4, 2026 | Dovilla issues press release announcing “Ohio Medicaid Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act.” | Ohio House of Representatives, Jun 4 |
| Jun. 7, 2026 | Huffman tells Hannah News his “four big issues” for June 10: capital budget, data centers, Medicaid fraud, voter ID. | Ohio CPA / Hannah News, Jun 7 |
| Jun. 8, 2026 | Medicaid Committee meeting, 2:00 PM (Sunday). HB 795. | Ohio House Medicaid Committee schedule |
| Jun. 9, 2026 | Medicaid Committee meeting, 9:00 AM. HB 795 — expected committee vote. | Ohio House Medicaid Committee schedule |
| Jun. 9, 2026 | House voting session (per Huffman to Hannah News). | Ohio CPA / Hannah News, Jun 7 |
| Jun. 10, 2026 | House voting session. Last session day before summer recess. All 99 members face voters in November. | Ohio CPA / Hannah News, Jun 7 |
Section 5: Aggregate Data
Total Huffman candidate-to-candidate investment, 2024 cycle
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contributions to candidates who won and currently serve | $246,904.73 |
| Contributions to candidates who lost or are not yet serving | $93,497.45 |
| Additional high-investment recipients (White, Roemer, Daniels) | $62,498.14 |
| Total individual candidate investment | $402,900.32 |
| Ohio Republican Party | $1,100,000.00 |
| Ohio House Republican Alliance | $245,000.00 |
| Allen County Republican Party | $3,000.00 |
| Total party/caucus investment | $1,348,000.00 |
| Grand total, 2024 cycle | $1,750,900.32 |
Reciprocal contributions: committee chairs → Huffman
A search of all available Ohio Secretary of State filings for MATT HUFFMAN FOR OHIO (2006-2026) found zero contributions from any committee chair’s campaign committee to Huffman. The financial relationship is one-directional.
| Direction | Total (2024 cycle) | Total (20 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Huffman → committee chairs | $111,689+ | Not calculated |
| Committee chairs → Huffman | $0 | $0 |
Sources
Campaign finance data
- Ohio Secretary of State Campaign Finance Database: ohiosos.gov/campaign-finance
- Committee: MATT HUFFMAN FOR OHIO (master_key 10592)
- Filings: 2024 PRE-GENERAL (Report Key 445570462), 2024 POST-GENERAL
- Raw data: Ohio SoS bulk download files, filtered for master_key 10592
Committee assignments and legislative activity
- Ohio House committee listings: ohiohouse.gov/committees
- Ohio House Medicaid Committee meetings: ohiohouse.gov/committees/medicaid/meetings
- Week of June 1, 2026 committee schedule (7th Revision): published by Ohio House of Representatives
- Ohio Legislature bill pages: legislature.ohio.gov
News reporting
- Statehouse News Bureau, Jan 14, 2025 — Committee chair announcements
- Statehouse News Bureau, May 13, 2026 — Legislative leaders on Medicaid fraud
- The Rooster, May 15, 2026 — “Fraudsters of a feather”
- Statehouse News Bureau, May 19, 2026 — Ramaswamy fraud press conference
- WEWS News 5 Cleveland (Morgan Trau), May 19, 2026 — Huffman confronted on JMOC
- NBC4, May 20, 2026 — Medicaid Committee expansion
- Statehouse News Bureau, May 20, 2026 — DeWine responds
- Ohio Capital Journal, May 21, 2026 — Republicans blame Republicans
- Heartland Signal, May 22, 2026 — McColley/JMOC connection
- Dayton Daily News, May 28, 2026 — HB 795 provisions
- Statehouse News Bureau, Jun 4, 2026 — Disability advocate testimony
- Dayton Daily News, Jun 4, 2026 — Disability advocates oppose HB 795
- WOSU, Jun 4, 2026 — Federal war on fraud event
- Ohio House of Representatives, Jun 4, 2026 — Dovilla press release
- U.S. House Oversight Committee, Jun 4-5, 2026 — Hearing on Medicaid waiver fraud; Hearing wrap-up
- Ohio CPA / Hannah News, Jun 7, 2026 — Week in Review
Methodology note
Compiled from Ohio Secretary of State campaign finance filings, Ohio House committee records, Ohio Legislature bill pages, and published news reporting. No anonymous sources. No confidential documents. No FOIA requests. Every factual claim is independently verifiable through the URLs and databases cited above.
Contribution totals were calculated from raw Ohio SoS bulk download CSV files for committee master_key 10592. Raw files use CR line terminators and were normalized before processing. Two filing periods (PRE-GENERAL and POST-GENERAL) cover the full 2024 election cycle. In-kind contributions (coded “DATA” in the purpose field) are included in totals.