Person
Bernard Willis
- Work
- Federal law enforcement officer, Springfield Air National Guard Base.
Source: Bernard Willis
- Work
- Adjunct professor in unmanned aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Sinclair Community College.
Sources: Bernard Willis · Bernard Willis Biography
- Public service
- Former Clark County deputy sheriff.
Source: Bernard Willis Biography
- Public service
- Chair, Ohio House Transportation Committee; chair of the Aviation Caucus and the Veterans Caucus.
Source: Bernard Willis Biography
- Education
- Associate degree, Marion Military Institute, 1987.
Source: Bernard Willis
- Education
- Bachelor's degree, U.S. Air Force Academy, 1991.
Source: Bernard Willis
- Education
- Graduate degree, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2018.
Source: Bernard Willis
- Military service
- U.S. Air Force pilot and multi-tour commander, flew F-16s and MQ-1 Predator drones; retired as colonel in 2023 after 30 years of active duty.
Sources: Bernard Willis · Bernard Willis Biography
Ballotpedia · Chamber directory · Official site · Ohio campaign finance
- $5,478Raised, as filed · July 1, 2026
- $11KCash on hand · July 1, 2026
- no poll on fileLatest poll
- 4Positions in their words · 3 issues
- none on fileClaims checked
- 1Offices held · Ohio State Representative, District 74, since 2023
9 of 11 sections researched
Not yet researched: What they have said, checked, Polling and approval.
What has been checked
- Profile 13 entries
- On the ballot 1 entry Confirmed as the incumbent Republican nominee on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot. Checked: Ballotpedia's district page for Ohio House District 74, general election votebox
- Where they stand 4 entries Three positions from his 2022 survey answer, because his Candidate Connection survey has not been updated for 2026 and Ballotpedia's infobox lists no separate campaign website for him. A statement from a September 15, 2026 news release on the official Ohio House member page was added on September 30, 2026. Checked: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey (2022 answers only; no 2026 answer); Ballotpedia's Campaign themes section (no 2026 statement recorded); his official Ohio House of Representatives page (a biography page, no distinct campaign website listed); the news releases on the official Ohio House member page (checked 2026-09-30)
- What they have said, checked Not yet researched
- Record in office 8 entries Of his 18 primary-sponsored bills in the 136th General Assembly as of September 21, 2026, two have been signed into law (House Bill 251 and House Bill 434); the rest remain introduced or passed by one chamber only. A later check of every bill he primary-sponsored in the 135th and 136th General Assemblies against each bill's own history on the legislature's site found one more signed into law, House Bill 77 of the 135th General Assembly (2023-2024). Includes the 5 key roll calls of the 136th General Assembly that every sitting legislator on this site gets: final passage of the operating budget, every veto override vote, and the vote placing Issue 3 on the ballot, as taken in their chamber while they served. Checked: ohiohouse.gov's Legislation page for Rep. Willis; the bill page for each of his primary-sponsored bills reaching As-Enrolled status, on legislature.ohio.gov; legislature.ohio.gov roll calls on House Bill 96 and Senate Joint Resolution 10
- Money 1 entry Calendar-2026 contributions and expenditures, and cash on hand on the most recent report (filed 2026-07-01), as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State. Reports filed after that are not included. Checked: Ohio Secretary of State candidate cover-page export, 2026 reports
- Financial interests 13 entries
- Polling and approval Not yet researched
- Elections 2 entries Includes the last general election for this seat.
- Endorsements 5 entries
- Sources 15 entries
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Section | State |
|---|---|
| profile | researched |
| ballot | researched |
| positions | researched |
| claims | not researched |
| record | researched |
| money | researched |
| interests | researched |
| polling | not researched |
| elections | researched |
| endorsements | researched |
| sources | researched |
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Chamber | District | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio House | Ohio House, Ohio's 74th District | Ohio State Representative, District 74 |
On the ballot
- Ohio State Representative, District 74 · November 3, 2026 · Republican
Source: Ohio elections, 2026
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Date | Deadline | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 18, 2026 | Military and overseas absentee voting begins | The start of absentee voting for military and overseas (UOCAVA) voters. | |
| October 5, 2026 | Voter registration deadline | 9 p.m. | Boards of elections and the Ohio Secretary of State's office are open until 9 p.m. to accept registrations. |
| October 6, 2026 | Absentee voting by mail and early in-person voting begin | Early in-person voting runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October 6 through October 9; hours change on later dates through Election Day. | |
| October 22, 2026 | Pre-general campaign finance reports due | 4 p.m. | Certain candidates, political action committees, caucus committees and political parties file by 4 p.m. reports covering contributions and expenditures through October 14, 2026. |
| October 27, 2026 | Deadline for boards to receive absentee ballot applications | 8:30 p.m. | Applications for an absentee ballot must reach the county board by this time. |
| November 1, 2026 | Last day of early in-person voting | 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Early in-person voting at county boards of elections ends on Sunday, November 1; the hours that day are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the table above. By October 29, nearly 1.3 million Ohioans had already voted early in person or returned absentee ballots (Journal-News; Signal Ohio's counts from the Secretary of State's daily absentee file add to 1,289,090). The 2022 midterm saw 1.47 million early votes, then a record. |
| November 2, 2026 | No early in-person voting at boards of elections | Early in-person voting at county boards of elections ended Sunday, November 1; there is no voting at boards of elections on Monday, November 2. Voters cast ballots at their assigned polling places on Tuesday, November 3. | |
| November 3, 2026 | Deadline for non-military/overseas absentee ballots to be received | 7:30 p.m. | Absentee ballots not covered by UOCAVA must be received by this time on Election Day. |
| November 3, 2026 | Last-minute absentee request for a hospitalization emergency | 3 p.m. | A voter, or a voter's minor child, who is hospitalized because of an accident or medical emergency may apply for an absentee ballot until 3 p.m. on Election Day. |
| November 3, 2026 | Polls open | 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Election Day voting hours statewide. |
| November 7, 2026 | Deadline for military and overseas (UOCAVA) absentee ballots to be received | The extended receipt deadline for UOCAVA absentee ballots. | |
| November 8, 2026 | Boards of elections may begin the official canvass | County boards may begin the official canvass of the November 3 General Election ballots (5 days after the election). | |
| November 18, 2026 | Deadline for boards to begin the official canvass | County boards must begin the official canvass of November 3 General Election ballots no later than this date (15 days after the election). | |
| November 24, 2026 | Deadline for boards to complete the official canvass | County boards must complete the canvass of November 3 General Election ballots no later than this date (21 days after the election). | |
| December 11, 2026 | Post-general campaign finance reports due | 4 p.m. | Certain candidates, political action committees, caucus committees and political parties file by 4 p.m. reports covering contributions and expenditures through December 4, 2026. |
Where they stand
Education
Our local schools under control of local school boards and responsible to our parents to support and teach values that we agree are safe for children. Spending more time preparing them for college and jobs, than indoctrinating them to “woke” counter-culture
Source: Bernard Willis
Environment and water
Cleanup of our local Tremont City barrel fill is priority #1, on an accelerated timeline, using state funds to move out NOW and setting up legal reimbursement by the corporation’s responsible
Source: Bernard Willis
Public safety
Strengthening our law enforcement support with funding aimed at community policing, early jail intervention to curb recidivism, and legal protections for LEOs doing their jobs
Source: Bernard Willis
This law is the next logical step in ensuring public trust when our law enforcement and public safety agencies are using the technology provided through their tax dollars
Source: Legislation to Address Evolving Technology and Air Mobility Signed into Law
What they have said, checked
Not yet researched
Record in office
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Person | Date | Kind | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Willis (R) | 2023-01-01 | office | Ohio State Representative, District 74 |
| Willis (R) | 2025-01-08 | bill | 2025-01-08 (bill): Primary sponsor of House Bill 77 (135th General Assembly), Regards the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles in Ohio, signed into law Januar |
| Willis (R) | 2025-04-09 | vote | 2025-04-09 (vote): Voted yes on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House-passed version) (House Bill 96); the House vote was 60-39 and |
| Willis (R) | 2025-06-11 | vote | 2025-06-11 (vote): Voted no on whether the House would concur in the Senate's amendments to the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bi |
| Willis (R) | 2025-06-25 | vote | 2025-06-25 (vote): Voted yes on the conference committee report on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the House vote wa |
| Willis (R) | 2025-07-21 | vote | 2025-07-21 (vote): Voted to override the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-tax levies |
| Willis (R) | 2025-11-25 | bill | 2025-11-25 (bill): Primary sponsor (with Rep. Brian Lampton) of House Bill 434 (136th General Assembly), "Exempt military driver's license applicants from driv" |
| Willis (R) | 2026-06-10 | vote | 2026-06-10 (vote): Voted yes on adopting the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to require identification to vote, placing it on the Novembe |
| Willis (R) | 2026-07-07 | bill | 2026-07-07 (bill): Primary sponsor of House Bill 251 (136th General Assembly), "Regards drone use by law enforcement; aviation facilities," signed into law Jul |
-
bill July 7, 2026
Primary sponsor of House Bill 251 (136th General Assembly), "Regards drone use by law enforcement; aviation facilities," signed into law July 7, 2026 (effective October 6, 2026; certain provisions effective October 6, 2030).
Sources: House Bill 251, 136th General Assembly · House Bill 251, 136th General Assembly: version history with governor-signed and effective dates
-
vote June 10, 2026
Voted yes on adopting the joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment to require identification to vote, placing it on the November 3, 2026 ballot as Issue 3 (Senate Joint Resolution 10); the House vote was 62-30 and the motion passed.
Sources: Senate Joint Resolution 10: votes · Senate Joint Resolution 10
-
bill November 25, 2025
Primary sponsor (with Rep. Brian Lampton) of House Bill 434 (136th General Assembly), "Exempt military driver's license applicants from driver's ed," signed into law as an emergency and appropriations act, effective November 25, 2025.
-
vote July 21, 2025
Voted to override the governor's veto of item 66 in House Bill 96; the item removed local authority to place replacement property-tax levies and certain emergency levies on the ballot (the House vote was 61-28, override succeeded).
Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96
-
vote June 25, 2025
Voted yes on the conference committee report on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the House vote was 59-38 and the motion passed.
Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96
-
vote June 11, 2025
Voted no on whether the House would concur in the Senate's amendments to the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House Bill 96); the House vote was 1-85 and the motion failed.
Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96
-
vote April 9, 2025
Voted yes on the state operating budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 (House-passed version) (House Bill 96); the House vote was 60-39 and the motion passed.
Sources: House Bill 96: votes · House Bill 96
-
bill January 8, 2025
Primary sponsor of House Bill 77 (135th General Assembly), Regards the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles in Ohio, signed into law January 8, 2025 (effective April 9, 2025).
Recorded votes
Bernard Willis cast 513 Yea or Nay votes on the roll calls we hold, across 2 terms from 2023 to 2026, all in the Ohio General Assembly, from the Ohio Legislature. Each term opens to every roll call, with the question, the result, how Bernard Willis voted and how the majority of their party voted.
| Term | Chamber | Yea | Nay | Did not vote | With party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 136th General Assembly, 2025–2026 | Ohio House, district 74 | 256 | 1 | not recorded | 100% of 42 |
| 135th General Assembly, 2023–2024 | Ohio House, district 74 | 222 | 34 | not recorded | 92% of 36 |
"With party" counts only roll calls on which most Republicans and most Democrats voted opposite ways. The Ohio Legislature records who voted Yea and who voted Nay and no one else, so an absence cannot be told from an abstention and neither is counted; only floor votes are listed.
Source: Legislation and votes
Money
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| From | To | Dollars | Share of total | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raised | Spent | 1,689.65 | 11.1% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Spent | 3,014.30 | 19.8% | |
| Raised | Cash on hand | 3,787.95 | 24.8% | |
| Other funds (derived) | Cash on hand | 6,757.60 | 44.3% |
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Totals as filed
| Race | Filer | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State Representative, District 74 | OhioSOS Willis for Ohio | $5,478 | $4,704 | $10,546 | July 1, 2026 |
Ohio campaigns were due to file pre-general reports on October 22, covering activity through October 14, 2026. They are not in these figures, which come from the latest report in our records, dated July 1, 2026.
Sources: Campaign Finance Data · Campaign Finance: Cover Page search · Campaign Finance
Outside spending
Financial interests
Disclosed holdings
-
Listed Bunyan's Enterprises, LLC as a business name.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed a fiduciary relationship with Bunyan's Enterprises, LLC.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed a fiduciary relationship with Fellowship Christian Church.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed a fiduciary relationship with Veterans Empowered Through Motorsports, LLC.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed an investment in Fidelity Investments.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed an investment in Ohio Public Employees Retirement System.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed an investment in Public Employees Deferred Compensation.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed an investment in State Teachers Retirement System.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed an investment in Vanguard.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
Disclosed income
-
Listed CAE USA Inc. as a source of income.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed Ohio House of Representatives as a source of income.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed US Air Force as a source of income.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
-
Listed Wright-Patt Fed Credit Union as a source of income.
April 3, 2026
Source: 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
Reported conflicts
None found in the records checked.
Net worth, as estimated
None found in the records checked.
Polling and approval
The numbers behind this figure, as a table
| Status |
|---|
| None found in the records checked |
Elections
| Race | Party | Result | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State Representative, District 74 (2026) | Republican | Pending | ||
| Ohio State Representative, District 74 (2024) | Republican | Won | 31,515 | 64.2% |
Offices held
Ohio State Representative, District 74 · 2023-01-01 to present · elected
Sources: Bernard Willis · Representative Bernard Willis - District 74
Endorsements
Endorsements received
partyOhio Republican Party
September 2026
Listed on the party's 2026 general-election slate card for Clark County; the card is titled a slate card and does not use the word endorsed.
Source: ohiogop.org
organizationOhio Right to Life PAC
August 10, 2026
Named in the PAC's 2026 general-election list, which the PAC calls candidate recommendations rather than endorsements.
Source: ohiolife.org
organizationBuckeye Firearms Association PAC (BFA-PAC)
August 3, 2026
Marked as endorsed in the PAC's 2026 general-election grades and endorsements table, with a grade of A.
Source: buckeyefirearms.org
organizationOhio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (OCCPAC)
July 10, 2026
Named in the PAC's July 10, 2026 release of general-election legislative endorsements, which lists 62 Ohio House candidates.
organizationNRA-PVF
2026
Listed in the organization's 2026 Ohio House endorsements, District 74.
Source: nrapvf.org
Sources
Data from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0: Ohio House of Representatives
Every URL on this page, once each.
- Bernard Willis · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Ohio House of Representatives District 74 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-21 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- Representative Bernard Willis - District 74 · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-21
- Bernard Willis Biography · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-21
- Bernard Willis Legislation · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-21
- House Bill 251, 136th General Assembly · The Ohio Legislature · accessed 2026-09-21
- House Bill 434, 136th General Assembly · The Ohio Legislature · accessed 2026-09-21
- Member Directory · The Ohio House of Representatives · accessed 2026-09-08
- Ohio House of Representatives · Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-08
- Campaign Finance Data · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
- Campaign Finance: Cover Page search · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
- Campaign Finance · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-19
- House Bill 96: votes · Ohio General Assembly
- Senate Joint Resolution 10: votes · Ohio General Assembly
- 2024 Official Election Results · Ohio Secretary of State · accessed 2026-09-21
- Ohio elections, 2026 · Ballotpedia · accessed 2026-09-19 · CC BY-SA 3.0 or later, per Ballotpedia's terms
- https://ohio-chamber-object-storage-m0uzx.sevalla.storage/uploads/2026/July/13/FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE.pdf
- https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/2026-bfa-pac-grades-and-endorsements-ohio-general-election
- https://ohiolife.org/ohio-right-to-life-pac-announces-2026-general-election-candidate-recommendations/
- https://ohiogop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/clark-county-slate-card.pdf
- https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/ohio/
- 2025 financial disclosure statement, Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee · Ohio Joint Legislative Ethics Committee
- Legislation to Address Evolving Technology and Air Mobility Signed into Law · The Ohio House of Representatives · 2026-09-15 · accessed 2026-09-30
- House Bill 251, 136th General Assembly: version history with governor-signed and effective dates · The Ohio Legislature (Legislative Information Systems API) · accessed 2026-09-30
- House Bill 96 · Ohio General Assembly · accessed 2026-09-21
- Senate Joint Resolution 10 · Ohio General Assembly · accessed 2026-09-21
- House Bill 77, 135th General Assembly · The Ohio Legislature · accessed 2026-09-22
- Ohio campaign finance
Cite and data
Cite this page as:
Cracked Buckeye, "Bernard Willis", https://crackedbuckeye.com/people/bernard-willis/, built 2026-11-03, accessed [date].
How to cite · Report a correction · Built 2026-11-03