Updated August 18, 2021, 1:28pm
Progressive Morgan Harper is running for U.S. Senate in Ohio. The 38-year-old Stanford-educated attorney, who began life in foster care, announced her bid Wednesday for the seat held by retiring Republican Rob Portman.
She faces 10-term Congressman Tim Ryan in the Democratic primary.
Harper, who is Black, drew national attention last year when she won 32% of the primary vote against veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty in Ohio’s young, diverse 3rd Congressional District.
Harper has never held elected office.
A former senior policy adviser at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Harper said she can provide the “fresh voice” needed to flip the seat for Democrats.
Even though the race is likely to be expensive, Harper said she won’t take corporate dollars.
“We will raise the resources necessary to execute our strategy which is built on a new game plan for us as Democrats, organizing people, door by door, block by block, getting across this state and letting people know they will have a champion in Washington who will stand up to corporate interests," Harper said.
Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles contributed to this story.
