Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senator has once again endorsed a candidate in this year’s race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown. With his endorsement of U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, Portman sides with his colleague over an outsider.
Back in May, Portman endorsed Treasurer Josh Mandel in the Senate race: “Today, I’m encouraging all Republicans to unify behind Josh so we can work together.”
A few days later, Cleveland banker Mike Gibbons jumped in, but it wasn’t until Mandel abruptly quit the race early this month that Gibbons looked like a leading candidate. Instead of backing Gibbons, Portman threw his support behind Renacci, who suddenly moved over from the race for governor.
“Renacci has a track record of success as a job creator and battle-tested conservative leader,” Portman tweeted on Monday.
. @JimRenacci has a track record of success as a job creator and battle-tested conservative leader, and I am proud to endorse him in the race for U.S. Senate.
— Rob Portman (@robportman) January 29, 2018
All 10 of Renacci’s Republican colleagues in the Ohio Congressional delegation have also endorsed him. Gibbons hasn’t responded, other than to note he’s picked up endorsements from some local conservatives, including two former Mandel chairs.
