With 60 seats in the Ohio House, there are not many pick-up opportunities for the GOP in 2014. One of the few chances to add to their majority is the open seat in House District 55. The left-leaning district is located in central Lorain County and currently represented by Rep. Matt Lundy (D-Elyria), who is term-limited and running for Lorain County Commissioner. Lundy won decisively in 2012, but the political environment and the GOP’s financial advantage may make this race competitive.

A couple weeks ago, Democrat Marcus Madison declared his candidacy for the seat. Madison is an Elyria City Councilman, having first been elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2011. At only 26, experience is not one of his strong suits, but he should bring a lot of energy to the race. You can read more about him on his campaign website: http://www.marcusmadison.com.

On the Republican side, Nathan Manning has stepped forward as a candidate in the past few days. Manning is city prosecutor in North Ridgeville and a law partner at Manning & Manning. He is also the son of current state Sen. Gayle Manning, whose senate district includes House District 55. Her presence on the ballot should definitely help Nathan with name identification. His father, the late Jeff Manning, served in the House from 2001 to 2003 and was an OCCPaC “Chamber Choice” candidate in 2002.

In a press release from the Ohio House Republican Organizational Committee (OHROC), Speaker Batchelder is quoted as saying, “Now more than ever, it is important that Ohioans have elected officials who they can rely on and trust, and Nathan Manning is that person for the 55th District.” That seems to indicate that OHROC is throwing their support behind Manning, and that a competitive Republican primary this May is unlikely.