State

State Representative, 73rd District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Ohio laws and the state budget in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Northern and central Fairfield County: Lancaster, Pickerington, Baltimore, Greenfield, Liberty, Pleasant, Violet and Walnut townships, and Fairfield County's parts of Columbus, Reynoldsburg and Canal Winchester.

Candidates Compare by issue

Whittney Wood

Democratic

Lancaster

The gist

Supports a larger owner-occupied credit and capped reassessments.
Supports restoring the Fair School Funding formula.
Supports universal background checks and red flag laws.
Supports abortion rights under the 2023 amendment.
Opposes HB 96's $600 million in state stadium bonds.
Supports zoning updates for affordable housing; limits on corporate buyers.
Supports limits on data center water and energy use.

More about Whittney

View sources (1)

Supports a larger owner-occupied credit and capped reassessments.
Whittney Wood — Ohio House District 73
Campaign website · Whittney Wood campaign · woodforohio.com
“I support increasing the owner-occupied credit, capping reassessments, and stabilizing taxes for the life of a mortgage.”
Supports restoring the Fair School Funding formula.
Whittney Wood — Ohio House District 73
Campaign website · Whittney Wood campaign · woodforohio.com
“Dismantling it to funnel money into private school vouchers is wrong. I support restoring it.”
Supports universal background checks and red flag laws.
Whittney Wood — Ohio House District 73
Campaign website · Whittney Wood campaign · woodforohio.com
“I support universal background checks and red flag laws.”
Supports abortion rights under the 2023 amendment.
Whittney Wood — Ohio House District 73
Campaign website · Whittney Wood campaign · woodforohio.com
“I will fight against every attempt to chip away at rights Ohioans voted to put in their own constitution.”
Opposes HB 96's $600 million in state stadium bonds.
Whittney Wood — Ohio House District 73
Campaign website · Whittney Wood campaign · woodforohio.com
“I would have voted NO. Ohio taxpayers should not be on the hook for $600 million in bonds to build a stadium”
Supports zoning updates for affordable housing; limits on corporate buyers.
Whittney Wood — Ohio House District 73
Campaign website · Whittney Wood campaign · woodforohio.com
“I support updating zoning codes for affordable housing and closing loopholes that allow Wall Street firms to buy up single-family homes.”
Supports limits on data center water and energy use.
Whittney Wood — Ohio House District 73
Campaign website · Whittney Wood campaign · woodforohio.com
“We need restrictions on water and energy use, the industry is moving faster than the regulations.”

Jeff LaRe

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative; executive vice president, Whitestone Group · Violet Township

The gist

Introduced an amendment capping taxable home value growth at 3%.In office
Sponsored making voyeurism a felony (HB 345).In office
Co-sponsored the Ohio Holly Act tightening bail for violent offenders.In office
Sponsored equal custody rights for unmarried fathers (HB 256).In office
Sponsored clearer notice of Medicaid estate recovery (HB 130).In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Jeff

View sources (5)

Introduced an amendment capping taxable home value growth at 3%.
LaRe, Miller Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Rein in Rising Property Taxes
Government record · Ohio House of Representatives · Sep 8, 2026 · ohiohouse.gov
“People shouldn’t be taxed out of their homes simply because property values around them have skyrocketed”
Sponsored making voyeurism a felony (HB 345).
Ohio House Passes Bill to Strengthen Penalties for Voyeurism
Government record · Ohio House of Representatives · Jun 3, 2026 · ohiohouse.gov
“legislation to strengthen penalties for the offense of voyeurism”
Co-sponsored the Ohio Holly Act tightening bail for violent offenders.
Reps. Swearingen and LaRe Hold Press Conference on the Ohio Holly Act
Government record · Ohio House of Representatives · Mar 5, 2026 · ohiohouse.gov
“The Ohio Holly Act will require judges to utilize risk assessment tools to determine a violent offender’s likelihood of reoffending”
Sponsored equal custody rights for unmarried fathers (HB 256).
Representative LaRe Provides Sponsor Testimony on Bill to Modernize Ohio Child Custody Law
Government record · Ohio House of Representatives · Sep 24, 2025 · ohiohouse.gov
“legislation to modernize child custody law for children born to unwed parents”
Sponsored clearer notice of Medicaid estate recovery (HB 130).
Reps. LaRe, Brennan's Bill to Improve Transparency of Medicaid Program Passes the House
Government record · Ohio House of Representatives · May 7, 2025 · ohiohouse.gov
“legislation that mandates clear notice of Medicaid Estate Recovery Program at application and approval”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 7 issues covered in this race.