Newly elected Ohio Senate president Matt Huffman will be sworn into office from his home after contracting COVID-19 over the holidays.
Spokesperson John Fortney says Huffman (R-Lima) experienced mild symptoms before the new year and is doing well.
Huffman joins a list of more than a dozen Ohio lawmakers who have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic began in March. Several members missed the end of the lame-duck session last month after getting exposed to or hospitalized from COVID-19.
Huffman will be sworn in remotely on Monday. He was chosen to succeed former Senate President Larry Obhof for the 134th General Assembly following a session filled with pandemic-related hurdles, a federal bribery scheme and infighting within the majority party.
Fortney said Huffman will return to the Statehouse after following CDC quarantine guidelines and Senate policy.
The Ohio Statehouse has become the scene of a partisan divide over mask-wearing in recent months, with Republicans continuing to push down Democrats’ motions to require all lawmakers to wear masks while in session and committees.
