House Majority PAC Ad Attacks Derek Merrin on HB 6
Fact checkers identified three false claims in a political ad linking candidate Derek Merrin to a bribery scandal.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Utilities
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The House Majority PAC recently launched an attack ad attempting to connect Derek Merrin to the FirstEnergy bribery scandal through his past vote for House Bill 6. Independent fact checkers have since flagged the advertisement for containing three false claims regarding Merrin and the legislation.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights the ongoing political fallout from the FirstEnergy scandal and the intense scrutiny surrounding the legislative history of energy policy in Ohio. Voters are being forced to navigate conflicting claims about responsibility for past utility rate increases as campaigns leverage these complex historical ties.
House Bill 6 originally included approximately $1 billion in subsidies for two nuclear plants. Separately, former lawmaker Larry Householder received a 20-year prison sentence for his involvement in the bribery scandal.
The players
Derek Merrin
He is a political figure whose legislative voting record is currently the subject of an attack advertisement.
House Majority PAC
This political action committee is responsible for airing the advertisement targeting the candidate.
Larry Householder
He is the former Ohio Speaker of the House who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a bribery scandal.
Mike DeWine
He is the current Governor of Ohio who signed legislation to eliminate coal-plant subsidies in 2025.
The details
The advertisement incorporated footage from a WTOL11 report to argue that Merrin's voting record contributed to electricity supply rate increases. While Merrin did receive campaign contributions from Householder-linked groups, he has faced no criminal charges in connection with the bill.
Timeline
2021: The legislature repealed the nuclear bailout provisions of House Bill 6.
June 2023: Electricity supply rates in Ohio more than doubled.
May 2025: Governor Mike DeWine signed legislation ending coal-plant subsidies.
October 28, 2026: Publication of the fact check analysis.
Market Landscape
The debate over House Bill 6 reflects a broader trend of political consolidation and industry-wide fallout following massive corruption scandals. This shift positions companies and politicians against a backdrop of intense public skepticism regarding utility regulations and political transparency.
Ohio residents may face continued confusion regarding the causes of utility rate volatility due to conflicting political advertisements. This political discourse complicates efforts for consumers to accurately track how policy decisions impact their monthly energy bills.
The takeaway
Evaluating political advertisements requires careful verification of claims, especially when they involve complex legislation like House Bill 6. Voters should look for independent fact checks before accepting claims about candidates' links to past public scandals.
Further reading
For additional context on the regulation of power companies, read more in our Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cleveland.
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