Sara Carruthers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 47th district | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – December 31, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Derek Merrin |
| Succeeded by | Diane Mullins |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 51st district | |
| In office January 7, 2019 – December 31, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Wes Retherford |
| Succeeded by | Brett Hillyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1962-06-23) June 23, 1962 |
| Party | Republican |
| Residence(s) | Hamilton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Miami University |
Sara P. Carruthers is a member of the Ohio State Board of Education, and former member of the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 47th district from 2019-2024. A Republican, Carruthers represents portions of southern Butler County. Prior to elected office, Carruthers worked in the media industry, including for WKRC-TV in Cincinnati.[1] She also worked as a press assistant for Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
Vote on expulsion of Larry Householder
On June 16, 2021, the Ohio House of Representatives voted to expel former Speaker Larry Householder following his indictment in the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal, which centered on the passage of House Bill 6. The resolution to expel Householder passed by an overwhelming margin, though a small group of lawmakers voted against removal.
According to reporting by the Dayton Daily News, Sara Carruthers, a Republican representing Hamilton, voted against expulsion. The newspaper reported that Carruthers said she believed expulsion was premature and that Householder should be afforded due process, stating that she did not think lawmakers should remove a member before a criminal conviction.[2]
Education
Carruthers attended Miami University. Carruthers is a member of the Delta Zeta sorority.[3]
Career
In 2018, Carruthers successfully ran in the Republican primary against state Representative Wes Retherford, who had been arrested for drunk driving.[4] She easily won the general election.
In 2019, it was found that Carruthers was sued for an alleged fraud case surrounding when she adopted twins more than a decade ago but failed to live up to a promise that she would provide a home for the birth mother and her three children.[5] Despite an audio recording of Carruthers admitting to the allegations, she claimed it was an extortion attempt.[6]
In 2022, Carruthers gained attention during her run for the newly drawn 47th State House District when her democratic opponent, 19-year-old Miami University student Sam Lawrence, announced his campaign and gained notoriety. Carruthers beat Real Estate Agent Cody Harper in the Republican primary and won against Lawrence in the general election.[7]
In 2024, Carruthers ran for re-election in the Ohio House of Representatives election. She lost the Republican primary election to Diane Mullins, a pastor who ran a campaign to the right of Carruthers.[8][9]
Electoral history
| Year | Republican | Votes | Pct | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Other | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Sara P. Carruthers | 22,039 | 59.78% | Susan Vaugn | 14,825 | 40.22% | ||||||
| 2020 | Sara P. Carruthers | 35,533 | 93.39% | Johnny Hamilton | 2,514 | 6.61% |
| Year | Republican | Votes | Pct | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Other | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Sara P. Carruthers | 21,663 | 65.20% | Sam Lawrence | 11,565 | 34.80% |
References
- ^ WKRC, LARRY DAVIS (May 8, 2018). "Race for 51st Ohio House district in Butler County getting attention". WKRC. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ "Householder expelled: How local lawmakers voted". Dayton Daily News. June 16, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ "A tale of two Miamians: former students and sorority sisters vie for state representative seat". The Miami Student. October 16, 2018. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - OH State House 51 - R Primary Race - May 08, 2018". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ Michael D. Pitman, Staff Writer. "Butler County lawmaker accused of fraud, 'illegal adoption contract'". journal-news. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ Johnson, Karin (February 16, 2019). "Ohio lawmaker accused of fraud; she says it's an extortion attempt". WLWT. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ Schramm, Molly; Pitman, Michael (November 9, 2022). "Incumbent Sara Carruthers retains Ohio State House seat over 19-year-old Democratic candidate Sam Lawrence". WCPO-TV. Hamilton, Ohio. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
- ^ Glynn, Erin. "Diane Mullins ousts incumbent Rep. Sara Carruthers". The Enquirer. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ "Hall wins GOP primary, Carruthers loses bid for fourth term". journal-news. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
External links
- Representative Sara P. Carruthers at ohiohouse.gov
- Sara Carruthers at votesmart.org
