Bill Reineke

Bill Reineke
Member of the Ohio Senate from the 26th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 4, 2021
Preceded by	David Burke
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 88th district
In office January 3, 2015 – December 31, 2020
Preceded by	Rex Damschroder
Succeeded by	Gary Click
Personal details
Born	(1954-10-09) October 9, 1954 Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Children	Jacquelyn, Suzie
Residence	Tiffin, Ohio
Education	Morehead State University (MBA)

William F. Reineke (born October 9, 1954) is an American politician who represents the 26th district of the Ohio State Senate. A member of the Reineke family that has owned the Reineke auto dealerships for decades, he made his first run for public office for state representative in 2014. When incumbent Republican Rex Damschroder failed to qualify for the ballot in 2014, Reineke decided to run to replace him. He won the primary election with 48% of the vote in a three way primary, including a win against Damschroder's wife. Reineke went on to win the general election with 58% of the vote.

Electoral history

Election results
Year	Office	Election		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
2014	Ohio House of Representatives	Primary		Bill Reineke	Republican	2,792	53.11%		Rhonda Damschroder	Republican	1,703	32.39%		Richard Geyer	Republican	762	14.49%
2014	Ohio House of Representatives	General		Bill Reineke	Republican	17,335	59.01%		Bill Young	Democratic	12,040	40.99%
2016	Ohio House of Representatives	Primary		Bill Reineke	Republican	15,777	100.00%
2016	Ohio House of Representatives	General		Bill Reineke	Republican	36,470	100.00%
2018	Ohio House of Representatives	Primary		Bill Reineke	Republican	8,119	100.00%
2018	Ohio House of Representatives	General		Bill Reineke	Republican	26,016	65.87%		Rachel Crooks	Democratic	13,482	34.13%
2020	Ohio Senate	Primary		Bill Reineke	Republican	24,599	64.80%		Melissa Ackison	Republican	13,362	35.20%
2020	Ohio Senate	General		Bill Reineke	Republican	114,776	70.57%		Craig Swartz	Democratic	47,050	28.93%		Robert Taylor	Write-in	824	0.51%

Ohio House of Representatives

In his second term, Reineke worked as a member of the House Finance Committee to pass the two-year Ohio operating budget for fiscal years 2018-2019. One provision he supported as a part of HB 49 was to freeze Ohio's Medicaid expansion, preventing new enrollment in the program by low-income Ohioans. In 2017, Reineke was named as the Assistant Majority Whip. His support of small businesses and working families and leadership for his district were cited as reasons for his appointment to the position. With the ascent of Larry Householder as Speaker, Reineke was dropped from leadership.

In 2019, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine proposed a gas tax increase in the state's two-year transportation budget. Representative Reineke opposed HB 62 because of the gas tax increase. The tax increase passed despite the opposition from Reineke and other conservatives in the House and Senate.

2020 Ohio Senate Campaign

On April 9, 2019, Reineke announced he was running for the Ohio Senate seat that will be vacated by David Burke in late 2020.

Reineke's campaign has been endorsed by Congressman Jim Jordan, incumbent Senator Dave Burke, the Ohio Republican Party, and the Buckeye Firearms Association.

Links

• Official campaign site