Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) may join the wave of House Republicans stepping down next year, as he is expected to receive an offer to serve as Youngstown State University's 10th president.
The Youngstown State University Board of Trustees voted 8-1 on Thursday to offer the leadership position to Johnson, according to the Canton Repository.
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Johnson, who was elected to Congress in 2010, representing Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, said on Thursday he is considering the offer but has yet to make a final decision and is still focused on representing Ohio.
“Very recently, I was made aware of the opportunity to become president of Youngstown State University by a national executive search firm,” Johnson posted in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
During Johnson's first run for Congress, he resided in Poland, Ohio, a Youngstown suburb, and he has strong ties to the community. He defeated incumbent Democrat Charles Wilson, flipping the seat red for the first time in more than a decade.
“When I was approached about leading this great university, with student success at the forefront, and helping to prepare the next generation of Americans to lead, I listened,” Johnson said. “I continue to be honored and humbled to serve the men and women of Eastern Ohio in Congress, and if I determine this opportunity to lead YSU is a good fit, I'll have a very difficult decision to make.”
The Republican-controlled House was plagued by chaos this year, starting early in January with the most rounds in recent history to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as speaker of the House. Months later, McCarthy's members tossed him out of the speaker's office before repeated failed efforts to elect a new candidate. The chamber narrowly avoided a government shutdown twice, passing legislation within the same week of the deadline to extend funding.
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Republicans also faced a string of losses on election night, with Democrats gaining control of the Virginia state legislature and maintaining the governorship in Kentucky. In Johnson's home state of Ohio, voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution. Amid embattled leadership and a lack of unity in the chamber, some GOP lawmakers have opted not to run for reelection in 2024, thwarting Republicans' efforts to hold on to their slim majority in the House.
If Johnson chooses to accept the role as YSU president, he would be joining other Republicans, including Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX), Ken Buck (R-CO), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), and Victoria Spartz (R-IN), in choosing to give up their seats. A few House Republicans announced they are vying for another office, such as Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), who is running for governor, or Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), who launched a Senate bid.