Wikipedia

Andrew Brenner

This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 6 May 2026.

Andrew O. Brenner (born January 14, 1971) is an American politician who has been a Republican member of the Ohio Senate representing the 19th district since 2019.[1] He previously served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011 to 2018.

Andrew O. Brenner
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 19th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2019
Preceded byKris Jordan
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 67th district
In office
January 3, 2011 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byKris Jordan
Succeeded byKris Jordan
Personal details
Born (1971-01-14) January 14, 1971 (age 55)
Columbus, Ohio
PartyRepublican
SpouseSara Marie Brenner
Ohio State University (BS)
ProfessionPolitician

Campaign contributions and legislative activity

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2017-2020 HB6 era

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Campaign finance filings from the Ohio Secretary of State show that Andrew Brenner’s campaign committee received contributions from multiple corporate and industry political action committees, including entities in the energy and utilities sectors. Documented contributions included $4,500 from FirstEnergy PAC, $3,350 from NiSource Inc. PAC, $500 from Duke Energy PAC, $500 from Enbridge PAC, $1,200 from rural electrification committees, and $250 from IGS Ventures between 2017 and 2019.[2]

In 2019, Brenner voted in favor of the conference committee report for House Bill 166, the state operating budget bill through which provisions of House Bill 6 were enacted into law.[3]

In the 134th General Assembly, Brenner was listed as a cosponsor of Senate Bill 117, legislation proposing repeal of certain House Bill 6 provisions and providing for customer refunds.[4]

House Bill 6 later became central to the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal investigation.

2020–2026 Campaign finance

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Campaign finance filings from the Ohio Secretary of State show that committees associated with Andrew Brenner reported contributions and expenditures across multiple election cycles from 2020 through 2026.[5]

Itemized filings show that Brenner’s campaign committees received contributions from political action committees (PACs) associated with energy and utilities companies, education-related organizations, insurance and financial services, and business and professional associations active in Ohio state policy.[5]

These sectors correspond to policy areas addressed by committees on which Brenner has served, including primary and secondary education, energy and public utilities, finance, and insurance.[5][6]

Committee assignments

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According to Ballotpedia, Andrew Brenner has served on multiple Ohio Senate committees across legislative sessions, including leadership roles as chair.[6]

2023–2024
  • Primary and Secondary Education Committee, Chair
  • Energy and Public Utilities Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Rules and Reference Committee
  • Transportation Committee[6]
2021–2022
  • Energy and Public Utilities Committee
  • Finance Committee
  • Insurance Committee
  • Primary and Secondary Education Committee, Chair
  • Rules and Reference Committee[6]
2019–2020
  • Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review
  • Joint Education Oversight Committee
  • Education Committee
  • Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee
  • Local Government, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs Committee, Vice Chair
  • Energy and Public Utilities Committee[6]
2017 legislative session
  • Community and Family Advancement Committee
  • Education and Career Readiness Committee, Chair
  • Financial Institutions, Housing and Urban Development Committee
  • Insurance Committee
  • Rules and Reference Committee
  • Joint Education Oversight Committee[6]

Legislative activity

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In the Ohio Senate, Brenner has focused on education policy and election law. As a member of the Senate Education Committee, he has introduced and supported legislation affecting public school governance and accountability.[7]

In 2025, Brenner introduced legislation that would allow the state to close underperforming public schools, a proposal that drew criticism from some educators and policymakers.[8] He has also supported proposals to restrict diversity and inclusion initiatives in public schools and to change Ohio’s school funding system, including reducing reliance on local property tax levies and expanding school choice programs.[9][10]

Brenner has also been involved in election-related legislation, including proposals addressing absentee ballot deadlines and election procedures.[11]

Senate Bill 23 (Heartbeat Bill)

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Brenner was a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 23, also known as the "Heartbeat Bill",[12] which was signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine in April 2019.[13] The law prohibited most abortions once fetal cardiac activity could be detected.[14]

Public statements and incidents

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Brenner has drawn attention for statements comparing actions of the state government to those of Nazi Germany.[15][16]

On April 22, 2020, immediately following Holocaust Remembrance Day, Brenner and his wife made public posts on Facebook comparing Ohio Department of Health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic under then-director Amy Acton to Nazi Germany. Ohio Governor and fellow Republican Mike DeWine condemned the comments.[17]

On May 3, 2021, Brenner participated in a public legislative Zoom meeting while driving. He used a virtual background during the meeting, though his seatbelt was visible. Brenner stated that he was not distracted.[18][19][20]

Personal life

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Brenner was born in Columbus, Ohio and graduated from Ohio State University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.[21] He is married to Sara Marie Brenner, and lives in Delaware.[22]

Early life and career

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Brenner was born in Columbus, Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Ohio State University in 1993 and worked for 11 years in the real estate and mortgage fields.[23]

He served as Delaware County Recorder from 2005 to 2010. Prior to that role, he served on the Kingston Township zoning board and as a representative to the Delaware County Regional Planning Commission.

In 2010, former representative Kris Jordan moved to the Ohio Senate, and Brenner ran for the open seat. In the Republican primary, he faced five opponents and received 24.4% of the vote.[24] He defeated Richard Bird in the general election by approximately 26,000 votes.[25]

Over four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, Brenner sponsored multiple pieces of legislation, including House Bills 58, 102, 124, and 217 of the 132nd General Assembly.[26][27][28][29] He also served as chairman of the Ohio House Education and Career Readiness Committee, which considers policy related to K–12 education in Ohio.[30]

In November 2018, Brenner was elected to Ohio's 19th senatorial district, representing Delaware, Knox, and parts of Franklin counties.[31][32]

References

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  1. ↑ "Andrew Brenner - House District 67". The Ohio House of Representatives. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Campaign finance filings: Brenner for Ohio (2017–2019 contributions)". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved April 13, 2026. Committee search: "Brenner for Ohio"; filter contributors including FirstEnergy PAC, NiSource Inc. PAC, Duke Energy PAC, Enbridge PAC, Ohio ACRE, and IGS Ventures; reporting period 2017–2019.
  3. ↑ "House Bill 166 – Conference Committee Report Vote". Ohio Legislature. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Senate Bill 117". Ohio Legislature. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Ohio Campaign Finance Search – Andrew Brenner filings (2020–2026)". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved April 14, 2026. Search candidate name "Andrew Brenner"; filter filing years 2020–2026; review all associated committees and transaction reports
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Andrew Brenner". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Ohio Senate committee previews amendments to education overhaul". Ohio Capital Journal. February 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ohio Senate education chair introduces bill that could close low-performing public schools". Ohio Capital Journal. March 21, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Ohio Republican senator wants to ban diversity and inclusion in public schools". Ohio Capital Journal.
  10. ↑ "Ohio legislator proposes school finance system without local levies, EdChoice expansion". NBC4.
  11. ↑ "Senate Bill 155". Ohio Legislature.
  12. ↑ "Senate Bill 23". The Ohio Senate.
  13. ↑ Lauren A. Bischoff (April 11, 2019). "Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs 'Heartbeat' abortion bill". Dayton Daily News.
  14. ↑ "Senate Bill 23". The Ohio Senate.
  15. ↑ Tobias, Andrew J. (July 3, 2018). "8 times Rich Cordray and other Ohio politicians made Nazi references". cleveland.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-23. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  16. ↑ Buchanan, Tyler (April 22, 2020). "Ohio lawmaker, in Facebook post criticizing Jewish health director for coronavirus shutdown, says he won't let the state become Nazi Germany". cleveland.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-26. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  17. ↑ "DeWine condemns posts by Ohio state senator and wife comparing Acton statement to rules in Nazi Germany". WBNS-10TV. April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  18. ↑ Campbell, Lucy (May 7, 2021). "Footage reveals Ohio state senator driving during Zoom call". The Guardian.
  19. ↑ Wong, Wilson (May 7, 2021). "Ohio state senator caught driving during Zoom call as House considered distracted-driving bill". NBC News. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  20. ↑ "Politician's Zoom Background Can't Hide Fact That He's Actually Driving".
  21. ↑ "Andrew Brenner - House District 67". The Ohio House of Representatives. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Andrew O Brenner". The Ohio Senate: 134th General Assembly. The Ohio Senate. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  23. ↑ "The Ohio Senate". www.ohiosenate.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  24. ↑ "Brenner and Jordan win nominations". This week News. 2010-05-08. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
  25. ↑ Brunner, Jennifer 2010 general election results (2010-11-02)
  26. ↑ "House Bill 58". The Ohio Legislature. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  27. ↑ "House Bill 102". The Ohio Legislature. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  28. ↑ "House Bill 124". The Ohio Legislature. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  29. ↑ "House Bill 217". The Ohio Legislature. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Brenner Chairman of Education Committee". The Sunbury News. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Senator Andrew O. Brenner". www.ohiosenate.gov.
  32. ↑ "2018 Ohio State Senate District 19 Election". Our Campaigns.
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