Democrats picked up enough Ohio House seats on Nov. 3 to break the Republican supermajority, giving Governor-elect Amy Acton real veto power when she takes office in January.

The exact number of flipped seats remained unsettled as of Wednesday. Spectrum News 1 reported Democrats gained at least seven seats based on early results. Fox 8 reported nine flipped seats. Both outlets agreed the GOP supermajority is gone.

Republicans still hold the majority. But without a supermajority, they can no longer override vetoes from the incoming Democratic governor, according to Fox 8. Republicans needed at least 60 state representatives to reliably overrule a veto, Fox 8 reported. Preliminary results put the GOP at about 56 House seats.

Before the election, Republicans held a 31-seat advantage in the Ohio House, according to Spectrum News 1.

What both sides are saying

State Rep. Dani Isaacsohn, the Democratic minority leader, called the results a major shift for the state, according to Spectrum News 1.

"We focus on the 70% of things that 70% of us agree on, or we can have gridlock," Isaacsohn said, according to Spectrum News 1.

State Rep. Brian Stewart, a Republican and chairman of the House Finance Committee, said Republicans expect to return with about 56 seats. Stewart said the results will require Republicans to play "a little more team ball," according to Spectrum News 1.

House Speaker Matt Huffman said in a statement he expects areas of agreement and disagreement with the new governor. Huffman said he will focus on ensuring the Republican caucus "makes the decisions that we believe are in the best interests of Ohioans."

Why it matters locally

The power shift could shape policy on school funding and property taxes, two issues that hit close to home for Strongsville-area residents.

Acton has proposed fully implementing Ohio's bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan, according to Fox 8. The plan was meant to gradually make schools less reliant on property taxes by increasing the state's share of funding, according to the Dayton Daily News. Republican lawmakers veered away from the plan this term, citing it as unsustainable, the Dayton Daily News reported. They still put a record amount of state funds into public schools.

Acton has also proposed expanding Ohio's Homestead Exemption to help more senior citizens and offering rebates to homeowners hit with significant property tax increases, according to Fox 8.

Lame duck and what comes next

Acton's inauguration is set for Jan. 11, 2027, according to Fox 8. Before that, legislators from both parties said they anticipate Republicans trying to advance legislation during the lame duck session to preemptively limit Acton's use of the veto, Fox 8 reported.

Acton has pledged to work across the aisle. She has promised to appoint at least one Republican to her cabinet, according to Fox 8.

Political expert Dave Cohen told Spectrum News 1 the shift matters because it restores the governor's ability to check the legislature. Had Republicans kept their supermajority, Cohen said, they could have passed legislation, had the governor veto it and then overridden the veto.

The new General Assembly convenes next year with Republicans still in control of both chambers but without the votes to govern unilaterally.