Tiffin’s Bill Reineke Is Ohio’s Next Senate President
COLUMBUS — State Sen. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) was officially named Tuesday as the next president of the Ohio Senate for the 137th General Assembly.
Reineke, who currently serves as Senate president pro tempore, will succeed term-limited Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) after eight years. McColley was tapped as Vivek Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial running mate, and his current Senate term ends Dec. 31, 2026.
“I’m honored to have the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate for the new General Assembly,” Reineke said. “The beginning of each new General Assembly brings unique challenges, and I’m looking forward to working with our capable and experienced leadership team as well as across the aisle to continue making sure that Ohio is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
The Senate Republican caucus informally chose Reineke on Tuesday, Nov. 10, according to Gongwer News Service. The Blade reported the same day that Reineke had been officially named to the post.
Reineke announced his bid for the post in July 2025. Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) also sought the job, but withdrew in May 2026, citing insufficient support among his Republican colleagues, leaving Reineke the sole declared candidate.
State Sen. George Lang (R-West Chester) will serve as Senate president pro tempore. Lang currently serves as majority whip. State Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) will serve as majority floor leader, the same position she currently holds. State Sens. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) and Susan Manchester (R-Lakeview) will serve as majority whips.
Opening day for the 137th Ohio General Assembly will be Jan. 4.
For Northwest Ohio, the selection keeps the chamber’s top job in the region. Reineke is from Tiffin, McColley is from Napoleon, and Gavarone, who will remain majority floor leader, is from Bowling Green.
Reineke represents the 26th Senate District, which includes Seneca County. He previously served three terms in the Ohio House, representing the 88th District from 2015 through 2020.
Reineke is a partner in the Reineke Family Dealerships. Signal Ohio reported in August 2025 that Reineke had raised about $418,000 in his campaign for Senate president that year, including at least $130,000 from automobile dealers and related groups.
Ohio Statehouse. Photo: Sixflashphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
