Trump-backed J.D. Vance wins Ohio’s GOP Senate primary

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• J.D. Vance won Ohio’s GOP Senate primary on Tuesday after being endorsed by former President Trump.
•  The “Hillbilly Elegy” author won over six other candidates vying for the nomination.
• Vance will face Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in the November midterm election.

J.D. Vance won Ohio’s GOP Senate primary on Tuesday after a late endorsement by former President Donald Trump. Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” scored the nomination after a crowded race packed with Trump allies.

Vance won over six other candidates, including former state Treasurer Josh Mandel, investment banker Mike Gibbons and former Ohio GOP Chairwoman Jane Timken, vying for the nomination.

The best-selling author will face Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in the November midterm election. Incumbent Republican Sen. Rob Portman is retiring.

“Now, the party that we need to unify to fight Tim Ryan, it’s our Republican Party, ladies and gentlemen. It is the party of working people all across the state of Ohio, and it needs to fight, and it needs to win,” Vance during his victory speech.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Tim Ryan needs to go down,” he added. “And we’re going to be the party that does it.”

Following Trump’s endorsement, Vance’s popularity soared less than three weeks before election day. The endorsement served as a key test of Trump’s power within the GOP and of his ability to play kingmaker.

Vance’s rivals highlighted his criticism of Trump in 2016 and that kept his numbers stagnant for much of the race. Though negative things had been said about Trump, the former president noted that many others had as well. In a statement, Trump said he believed that Vance had come around. 

“Like some others, J.D. Vance may have said some not so great things about me in the past, but he gets it now, and I have seen that in spades. He is our best chance for victory in what could be a very tough race,” Trump said.. 

Vance’s team used the endorsement and had Vance appear with Trump at a rally in Ohio.

Also, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., held a fundraiser for Vance when he toured the Buckeye State.

Other top Republicans endorsed Vance’s rivals. Sen. Ted Cruz supported Mandel, while former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway endorsed Timken, and Sen. Rand Paul backed Gibbons.

Trump’s endorsement put all Vance’s opponents in a difficult position. 

Mandel, Gibbons and Timken all labeled themselves as Trump supporters while saying his endorsement was misplaced.

Source: The Hill