Ex-Ohio lawmaker with felony conviction loses US House bid

SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP) — A former lawmaker removed from the Ohio House of Representatives after a felony theft conviction has lost in the GOP primary in his run at a U.S. House seat in northern Ohio.

Sandusky real-estate agent and auctioneer Steve Kraus finished second Tuesday in the Republican primary in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District.

Cleveland-area businessman Donald Larson won the GOP nomination to run against U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

The district stretches along the Lake Erie shoreline from Toledo to East Cleveland.

An Ottawa County jury in July found Kraus guilty of taking antiques from a home without the owner’s permission. An appeal of the conviction is pending.

Kraus maintains his innocence and says he believes the conviction was “retribution” for his surprise victory in the 2014 election.