Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman has won re-election over Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland in a race Democrats once considered a good opportunity to pick up a Senate seat.
Minutes after The Associated Press projected the race, Strickland conceded the race and issued a statement saying he called Portman to congratulate him and wish him well.
Strickland says the result wasn't what he hoped for, but he is grateful to have had the opportunity to speak out for hardworking Ohioans.
Portman ran a savvy and well-funded campaign that kept Strickland on the defensive and kept Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at a distance leading up to Tuesday's election.
Portman's campaign branded Strickland "Retread Ted" and highlighted Ohio's economic struggles, which saw 350,000 jobs lost during Strickland's governorship. Strickland blamed the Great Recession and said he had started the state's recovery.
Portman didn't campaign with Trump and withdrew his endorsement of him when a 2005 tape of Trump making lewd comments about kissing and groping women surfaced weeks ago.
Portman plans to make a victory speech at 8:20 p.m.
