Despite teasing a potential run for Ohio’s open U.S. Senate seat, former journalist and Fox News commentator Geraldo Rivera says he decided against seeking office next year.
Rivera tweeted Wednesday he was “pondering running” for the seat held by retiring Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). On Sunday, Rivera, who hosts a radio talk show in Cleveland where he lives, shared a short but rambling video from Florida, which started with him saying, "I don't know why everyone who can doesn't live here."
PS the Senate’s 50-49 approval of 1.9 Trillion COVID-19 relief Bill is more evidence that elections have consequences. Remember Georgia’s runoff & #DonaldTrump’s disastrous appearance on the eve of his riot? Dems winning both seats. Bravo Johnson&Johnson Get vaccinated asap. pic.twitter.com/D7YvJmlYtO
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) March 7, 2021
The 77-year-old Rivera went on to praise cash assistance to low-income people in the COVID-19 relief bill and also Florida’s GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis. But he also demanded an apology from former President Trump or a recognition that what Trump did the day of the Capitol insurrection "wasn’t right."
#Geraldo4Ohio
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) March 11, 2021
From the Great River to the Great Lake, I’ll fight for you.
However, by Thursday afternoon, Rivera changed course: "After a 36-hour pondering whirlwind I’ve decided not to seek public office. Erica and I deeply appreciate the good wishes of those cheering the idea."
After Rivera's initial tweets, there were several suggestions that another controversial talk show host from Ohio should join the contest: Jerry Springer.
Springer, who is also 77, is the Democratic former mayor of Cincinnati. He currently hosts a podcast, which he records on Zoom. He has both attempted and considered statewide runs for office multiple times, most recently exploring running for governor in 2018.
No Democrats have entered the U.S. Senate race in Ohio yet. Republican candidates Jane Timken, the former Ohio GOP chair, and Josh Mandel, former state treasuer, are currently running.
