Adam Holmes

Adam Holmes
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 97th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 6, 2019
Preceded byBrian Hill
Personal details
Born (1967-07-31) July 31, 1967 (age 59)
PartyRepublican
EducationUnited States Naval Academy
University of San Diego
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
RankColonel

Adam Holmes (born July 31, 1967) is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 97th district since 2019. A Republican, Holmes' district includes Guernsey County and the majority of Muskingum County.

Education and career

Holmes earned a Bachelor of Science in political science from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in global leadership from the University of San Diego. He served for more than 27 years on active duty in the United States Marine Corps, including as an aviator, and retired as a colonel in 2016. His military service included operations in Iraq and Somalia.

Holmes has also served as chief executive officer of Frueh Enterprises, a mechanical and industrial contracting company based in Zanesville, Ohio.

Ohio House of Representatives

Appointment and elections

In 2019, State Representative Brian Hill was appointed to the Ohio Senate, creating a vacancy in the 97th district. Soon, it was announced that Holmes had been chosen by Ohio House Republicans to fill the vacancy and serve out the remainder of Hill's term. He was sworn into office on February 6, 2019.

Holmes won election to a full term in 2020, defeating Democratic candidate Alaina Swope. He was reelected without opposition in 2022. In 2024, he defeated independent candidate Scott Wilson, receiving 35,081 votes to Wilson's 12,120.

Legislative work

Holmes was the primary House sponsor of House Bill 214, which restricted public schools from requiring students, staff, or prospective employees to affirm specified political principles. The final legislation also included provisions accommodating students' religious observances. Holmes said the restrictions were intended to protect people from penalties for expressing political views. The Ohio Education Association opposed the measure, arguing that existing professional standards already protected against discrimination based on political beliefs. Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill on July 24, 2024.

In 2025, Holmes chaired the House Energy Committee. He argued that provisions of House Bill 15 allowing large electricity users, including data centers, to generate power on site could reduce delays in obtaining permits for energy projects.

In May 2026, Holmes and state senator Brian Chavez announced a bipartisan legislative committee on data centers, with both legislators as co-chairs. The committee was established to examine the economic, environmental, and security implications of data center development in Ohio.

Holmes is credited as "Military Strategy Consultant" in the popular science fiction film Coherence.

References

  1. 1 2 "Adam Holmes to fill Brian Hill's vacant seat". Zanesville Times Recorder. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  2. ↑ "Adam Holmes Biography". Ohio House of Representatives. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Morris, Matt (October 11, 2024). "Rep. Holmes Recognized by NFIB". WHIZ News. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Workforce development main goal for new House rep". Zanesville Times Recorder. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  5. 1 2 Hiotis, George (2019-02-20). "Brian Hill to Leave Ohio Senate". WHIZ News. Retrieved 2019-08-05.
  6. ↑ "Nashport Man Selected for 97th House District". WHIZ News. February 6, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Muskingum County Official Canvass: November 3, 2020 General Election" (PDF). Muskingum County Board of Elections. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Official Canvass: November 8, 2022 General Election, 97th District House of Representative" (PDF). Muskingum County Board of Elections. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Official Canvass: November 5, 2024, State Representative, 97th District" (PDF). Muskingum County Board of Elections. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  10. ↑ McClory, Eileen; Kreemer, Avery (August 8, 2024). "New Ohio Laws Address Student Data Privacy, Cellphones". Government Technology. Tribune Content Agency. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Ohio House Bill 214: 135th General Assembly". LegiScan. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  12. ↑ Donaldson, Sarah (December 8, 2025). "Study: Delays in how Ohio permits energy projects defray investments". The Statehouse News Bureau. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
  13. ↑ Henry, Megan (May 18, 2026). "Ohio lawmakers are creating bipartisan data center committee that will start meeting this month". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved October 12, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Adam P. Holmes | Additional Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-04-05.