Elliot Forhan
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 21st district
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
Preceded byKent Smith
Personal details
Born1980 (age 43–44)
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceSouth Euclid, Ohio
Alma materKenyon College (BA)
Yale University (JD)
OccupationAttorney
Websitewww.forhanforohio.com

Elliot Forhan (born 1980) is an attorney and non-profit executive who has served in the Ohio House of Representatives since 2023. He represents the 21st district in Cuyahoga County.

Early life and education

After graduating from high school, Forhan earned an undergraduate degree from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He then earned attended Yale Law School, where he earned a JD.[1]

Career

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.[1][2]

Ohio House of Representatives

Election

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[3]

Controversies

On May 30, 2023, Forhan was reprimanded by House Minority Leader Allison Russo for an interaction with a Cleveland-area cosmetologist who had just testified in opposition to a bill co-sponsored by Forhan that would modify regulation of the cosmetology industry. The interaction was described as a “volatile, condescending, aggressive and fiery tirade.” Forhan apologized and was ordered by Russo to undergo implicit bias training.[4][5]

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. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also confirmed that he had appointed a special counsel to investigate Forhan's behavior at Stephens's request.[9]

Personal life

Forhan is the son of two women whose wedding he officiated after the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.[1]

Election results

Ohio House 21st District
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct
2022 Elliot Forhan 28,311 73.4% Kelly Powell 10,260 26.6%

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Jonathan Holody in the 21st Ohio House District Democratic primary Aug. 2: endorsement editorial". cleveland.com. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  2. ↑ "Elliot Forhan". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  3. ↑ "2022 Ohio State House - District 21 Election Results". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  4. ↑ Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland com (2023-05-30). "Cleveland area state lawmaker reprimanded after 'aggressive' Statehouse interaction with constituent". cleveland. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  5. ↑ Forhan, Elliot (May 27, 2023). "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  6. ↑ "Northeast Ohio lawmaker removed from Democratic caucus for 'abusive behavior'". News 5 Cleveland WEWS. 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  7. 1 2 Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland com (2023-11-16). "South Euclid state lawmaker under fire following latest Ohio Statehouse confrontation". cleveland. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  8. ↑ "'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.
  9. ↑ "Ohio House speaker calls for investigation into Democrat accused of hostile behavior". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
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