Senate primary attracting a crowd

OHIO — The race to replace outgoing US Senator Rob Portman in Washington is attracting a crowd of candidates and it may be growing again.

State Senator Matt Dolan, R- Chagrin Falls, has begun a tour of the state in search of support for a possible Senate bid. If he launches a bid for the seat, he will join five other Republican candidates in the May 2022 Republican Primary Election.

Already in the race are former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, former Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken, author J.D. Vance, Cleveland businessman Mike Gibbons, and Cleveland car dealer Bernie Moreno.

Miami Valley Congressman Mike Turner, R- Dayton, is also considering a run for the Senate. The filing deadline is next February, and candidates have already begun to raise money and crisscross the state trying to cultivate support.

So far, the only Democrat in the race is Rep. Tim Ryan of northeast Ohio. The winner of the Republican primary would likely face Ryan in the November 2022 election. Portman’s seat opened when the Cincinnati Republican announced earlier that he is retiring from elected politics.

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