Vance, Ryan Score Victories in Ohio Primaries

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Author and venture capitalist J.D. Vance will face Rep. Tim Ryan to become Ohio’s junior senator in the November general election after the two candidates won their respective primaries on Tuesday.

Vance, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, received over 340,000 votes in a crowded field of Republicans vying to replace retiring GOP Sen. Rob Portman. Vance carried 74 of Ohio’s 88 counties and amassed over 32% of the vote and successfully punched his ticket to the general election.

Former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel was the contest’s runner-up, scoring wins in 11 of 88 counties and obtaining just below 24% of the vote on Tuesday, according to election data. Ohio state Sen. Matt Dolan came in third after winning just three counties and just over 247,000 votes.

Vance’s victory is one that is sure to please Trump, whose influence had loomed over the Ohio Senate primary as a test of his endorsement’s power. Although Trump had endorsed 22 candidates — most of whom were incumbents — he refused to throw his support behind Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who cruised to victory with over 48% of the votes in his race.

DeWine will face former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley in the gubernatorial election. Whaley won her primary against former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley with 65% of the electorate’s support.

Although Ryan secured his primary victory after receiving more votes and a larger percentage of the overall electorate than Vance on Tuesday, Republican turnout outpaced Democratic turnout in the primaries. Former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau advisor Morgan Harper came in second behind Ryan with just under 18% of the vote.

Incumbent GOP Rep. Steve Chabot will face Cincinnati City Councilmember Greg Landsman in November for Ohio’s 1st Congressional District, according to election data. Incumbent Rep. Bill Johnson won the GOP primary for Ohio’s newly minted 6th Congressional District, setting the stage for a November showdown against business owner Louis Lyras.

Max Miller, another Trump-endorsed candidate and one of his former White House aides, prevailed in a crowded primary contest to replace outgoing Rep. Bob Gibbs in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District. Miller will square off against entrepreneur Matthew Diemer, who won the Democratic primary for the 7th District with over 55% of the vote.

The GOP primary for northwest Ohio’s 9th Congressional District was won by Air Force veteran J.R. Majewski, who obtained just under 38% of the vote. Majewski won by just over 3,000 votes, sealing his matchup against the unopposed Democratic incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur.

Incumbent Secretary of State Frank LaRose fended off state Rep. John Adams for his party’s nomination. LaRose is set to take on Cincinnati City Councilmember Chelsea Clark, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Rep. Shontel Brown beat former state Sen. Nina Turner in the Democratic primary for Ohio’s 11th Congressional District, notching a victory for moderates against the liberal party’s more progressive wing. Brown had campaigned as a strong ally of President Joe Biden’s domestic agenda while Turner’s candidacy was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and the grassroots political action committee Progressive Democrats of America.

Early voting for Ohio’s Aug. 2 special election begins on July 6 and includes the Saturday, Sunday and Monday before Election Day, according to the Secretary of State’s office. Polls will open at 6:30 a.m. EDT and close at 7:30 p.m. EDT for the special election, and Ohioans will have between 8 a.m. EDT and 2 p.m. EDT to vote during the last day of early voting in August.

Eligible voters can access the Secretary of State’s website for a full list of polling locations.

Reece can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @ReeceNWrites