Frank LaRose Ohio Secretary of State and Political Career

Frank LaRose is an American politician and current 51st Secretary of State of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, LaRose has a diverse background spanning military service in the U.S. Army Special Forces and legislative experience in the Ohio State Senate.

Early Life and Military Service

Born on April 18, 1979, in Akron, Ohio, LaRose grew up in Copley Township. He worked in his family's beverage bottling and distribution company, the House of LaRose, and spent time on the family farm. After graduating from Copley High School, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1998.

LaRose served in the 101st Airborne Division and later became a Green Beret in the U.S. Special Forces. For his service in Iraq, he was awarded the Bronze Star. He has frequently cited his military experience as a primary motivator for his desire to protect election integrity and voters' rights.

Political Career in the Ohio Senate

LaRose entered politics in 2010, winning a seat in the Ohio Senate representing the 27th District. Despite the district being Democratic-leaning, he defeated the Democratic nominee by a significant margin. He was re-elected in 2014.

Legislative Focus and Achievements

During his tenure in the Senate, LaRose held several key leadership positions, including chairing the Transportation Committee and the Public Safety, Local Government, and Veterans Affairs Committee. His legislative work focused heavily on election modernization and transparency:

• Online Voter Registration: He sponsored Senate Bill 63, which allowed Ohio residents to register to vote online.
• Electronic Poll Books: He advocated for the funding of electronic poll books to shorten voting lines and increase efficiency.
• Electronic Campaign Finance: He authored legislation to allow campaign finance reports to be filed electronically, removing the paper-only requirement.

LaRose was named the 2015 Legislator of the Year by the Ohio Association of Election Officials for his efforts to modernize the election system and minimize gerrymandering.

Ohio Secretary of State

LaRose was elected as the 51st Secretary of State of Ohio in 2018, defeating Democratic candidate Kathleen Clyde. Since taking office in January 2019, he has focused on maintaining voter rolls and ensuring the secure conduct of elections.

During his campaign, he discussed various measures to prevent voter fraud, including his stance on voter list maintenance (purging) and his views on same-day registration. He has remained a central figure in Ohio's electoral processes and more recently ran as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat in the 2024 primary election.