JIM HOOPS CANDIDATE FOR OHIO STATE SENATE FIRST DISTRICT

Jim Hoops is a Republican Party candidate seeking the Ohio State Senate seat for the First District in the May 2026 Ohio Primary Election. This district encompasses numerous counties in northwest Ohio, including Defiance, Fulton, Hancock, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert, Williams, and the northern part of Logan.

Currently, he serves as the State Representative for the 81st Ohio House District, which includes the counties of Fulton, Henry, Williams, and the northern half of Defiance. He is in his third full term in this position. Previously, he has held the role of Henry County Auditor from 1985 to 1998 and was the Associate Vice President for Strategic Initiatives at Northwest State Community College.  From 2007 to 2014, he worked at American Municipal Power, Inc., serving as Associate VP of Finance and contributing to a team that financed over $6 billion for the construction of power plants utilizing hydro, coal, and natural gas.

With extensive and unparalleled knowledge and experience, Jim Hoops stands out as a candidate who effectively represents the best interests of citizens, businesses, and communities in northwest Ohio. He served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1999 to 2006 and in 2018, was selected to fill the open seat left vacant by Rob McColley when he was appointed to the Ohio Senate. Over the past eight years, Representative Hoops has collaborated with Senator McColley on issues and legislation that benefit Northwest Ohio, demonstrating a strong track record of achievement while maintaining the integrity, respect, and dignity of our institutions.

His character, knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience as a conservative Republican legislator position him as a logical and trusted choice for voters in the upcoming 2026 elections.

Jim Hoops graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1977, where he was a first team, All-Ohio basketball stand-out, the leading scorer in the school’s history, and earned Player of the Year honors in Northwest Ohio Class A. He was recruited by Northwestern State University in Louisiana where he played four years of Division I college basketball and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Computer Programming.

He and his wife, Deb, live in Napoleon, Ohio, where they take pride in being devoted parents and grandparents.

James M. "Jim" Hoops, Republican Party Candidate for Ohio State Senate