Biography

Michael Anthony Rulli, born on March 11, 1969, in Poland, Ohio, is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 6th Congressional District. He was sworn into office on June 25, 2024, following a special election to fill the vacancy left by former Representative Bill Johnson. Prior to his congressional tenure, Rulli served as an Ohio State Senator for the 33rd District from 2019 until his resignation in June 2024. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Rulli is the director of operations at Rulli Bros. Markets, a family-owned chain of grocery stores established over a century ago in the Mahoning Valley. He resides in Salem, Ohio, with his wife, Kelly, and their two children.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Rulli graduated from Poland Seminary High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Speech from Emerson College in 1991.

• Political Experience:

  • Elected to the Leetonia Exempted Village School District Board of Education in 2009, where he served as president and led the district through a financial crisis without raising taxes.
  • Elected to the Ohio State Senate in 2018, representing the 33rd District, and re-elected in 2022.
  • Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election on June 11, 2024, and sworn in on June 25, 2024.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Legislative Actions:

  • In 2019, Rulli was one of 12 Ohio State Senators to vote against HB 6, a controversial energy bill later implicated in a major corruption scandal.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, he championed legislation to prevent municipalities from banning the use of plastic grocery bags, emphasizing the importance of consumer choice and business operations.

• Committee Assignments:

  • As a U.S. Representative, Rulli serves on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Education and the Workforce Committee.

• Awards and Recognition:

  • In 2017, Rulli received the Better Business Bureau's Torch Award and was honored as the Regional Chamber's Small Businessman of the Year.

Rulli's career reflects a commitment to public service, business leadership, and community engagement within Ohio's 6th Congressional District.