GOP Secretary Of State Deployed With National Guard

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has been activated with his Ohio Army National Guard unit, according to NBC4, a media partner of The Columbus Dispatch.

Details of the deployment are being kept under wraps for security reasons. If LaRose is unable to carry out his duties, an assistant secretary of state would step in, the outlet reported.

The move comes as Ohio maintains a sizable military footprint, with more than 35,000 National Guard and Reserve members and over 11,000 active-duty troops stationed in the state, according to prior Dispatch reporting.

LaRose’s activation also lands amid rising military tensions overseas. The news follows a deadly crash in Iraq that killed three Ohio airmen and comes as the U.S. prepares to send roughly 1,500 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to Iran, according to USA Today.

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LaRose enlisted in the Army straight out of high school at 18. He later served with the 101st Airborne Division and U.S. Army Special Forces as a Green Beret, according to the Army Recruiting Command. During his active-duty service, he earned a Bronze Star along with several other commendations, according to his official biography.

After leaving active duty, LaRose returned to civilian life, attending The Ohio State University before launching a political career. He served two terms in the Ohio Senate before being elected secretary of state.

In March 2021, he rejoined the military through the Army Reserve, more than a decade after leaving active service. He is currently running for Ohio auditor in the 2026 election.

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