Report: ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author Vance courted for U.S. Senate bid; Sheriff Jones to decide tomorrow

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Election 2018
By
Jan 9, 2018
X

Middletown native and "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance told The Atlantic in September he was not going to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Ohio against Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, in November 2018.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, has spoken with Vance, who voted for Evan McMullin over Donald Trump in November 2016, about a potential bid, Politico reported on Monday citing three sources.

RELATED: Ohio AG Mike DeWine endorsed by Sheriff Richard Jones, and they talked about the U.S. Senate race

This comes days after Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel announced he is leaving the race due to his wife's health issues. It also comes during reports that Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones has been courted by some Republicans to take Mandel's place.

Jones told this news organization he’s “not ruling anything out” but has said he’ll decide on Wednesday if he will run.

As of now, Cleveland investment banker Mike Gibbons is the front-runner for the GOP primary this May. The filing deadline for the race is Feb. 7.

RELATED: Republican Ohio treasurer drops out of U.S. Senate race

According to Politico, if Vance enters the race, McConnell has said he would prioritize this U.S. Senate race.

Politico is also reporting that Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, who is the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is trying to court U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Ohio, to run for U.S. Senate.

Brown is one of 10 Senate Democrats up for re-election this November. Republicans hold a narrow lead in the U.S. Senate. There are 51 Republican senators to 49 Democratic senators.

In Other News
1
Ohio 4 at Grand Boulevard reopens in Hamilton following 2-vehicle crash
2
Annual Hill Humanitarian award presented to the city of Middletown
3
Monroe appears ready to lift moratorium on cannabis businesses
4
Record breaking: Miami U earns more than $50 million in grants
5
Miami wins fifth straight to keep pace atop MAC standings

About the Author

Follow Michael D. Pitman on facebookFollow Michael D. Pitman on twitter

Michael D. Pitman has been a reporter in southwest Ohio since 1999. He's covered local governments in Warren and Butler counties, as well as state and national issues. He currently covers the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton.