| Elliot Forhan | |
| State House: | Ohio |
| District: | 21st |
| Term Start: | January 1, 2023 |
| Preceded: | Kent Smith |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Alma Mater: | Kenyon College (BA) Yale University (JD) |
| Occupation: | Attorney |
| Residence: | South Euclid, Ohio |
| Website: | www.forhanforohio.com |
Elliot Forhan (born 1980) is an attorney and non-profit executive who has served in the Ohio House of Representatives since 2023. He represents the 21st district in Cuyahoga County.
After graduating from high school, Forhan earned an undergraduate degree from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. He then earned attended Yale Law School, where he earned a JD.[1]
Until leaving to work for the Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign, Forhan worked as an attorney in the Cleveland office of BakerHostetler. He had previously worked for Governor Ted Strickland and State Treasurer Richard Cordray. In addition to his current law practice, which he operates as a solo practitioner, Forhan serves as general counsel for a non-profit organization focused on patent law.[1] [2]
Forhan was elected in the general election on November 8, 2022, winning 73.4 percent of the vote over 26.6 percent of Republican candidate Kelly Powell[3]
On March 19, 2024, Forhan came in third place behind Eric Synenberg and Angel Washington for the Democratic Primary election. He received 12.02% of the total vote.
On May 30, 2023, Forhan was reprimanded by House Minority Leader Allison Russo for an interaction with a Cleveland-area cosmetologist who had just testified in opposition to a bill co-sponsored by Forhan that would modify regulation of the cosmetology industry. The interaction was described as a “volatile, condescending, aggressive and fiery tirade.” Forhan apologized and was ordered by Russo to undergo implicit bias training.[4] [5]
In June 2023, Forhan came to the home of Representative Juanita Brent unannounced with the stated purpose of discussing complaints levied against him to House Democratic leadership by local labor groups. Brent characterized the visit as "inappropriate" and "upsetting." Following this incident, Forhan was removed from his position as ranking member of the House Government Oversight Committee.[6] Brent also filed a civil protection order against Forhan.[7]
On November 16, 2023, Russo announced that she was stripping Forhan of his committee assignments and access to House Democratic caucus staff for displaying a "continued pattern of harassment, hostility, and intimidation of colleagues and staff." This decision was made following a confrontation with Representative Munira Abdullahi over a video that Forhan had posted online regarding a request from caucus staff to remove an Israeli flag that he had placed outside of his office door.[8]
On November 20, 2023, House Speaker Jason Stephens announced that he was suspending Forhan's badge access to the Ohio Statehouse and the Vern Riffe Center, where the offices of state representatives are located. Dave Yost, the Ohio Attorney General, appointed a special counsel to investigate Forhan's behavior at Stephens's request.[9] The Ohio Attorney General found the legislature's punishment to be appropriate.
In April 2024, the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas found that Brent failed to prove that Forhan knowingly engaged in a pattern of conduct that caused her to believe that she would be physically harmed or caused mental distress.[10]
Forhan is the son of two women whose wedding he officiated after the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.[1]
| Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Elliot Forhan | align="right" | 28,311 | 73.4% | Kelly Powell | 10,260 | 26.6% |