COLUMBUS, Ohio -- J.D. Vance, the “Hillbilly Elegy” author and investor, is planning a “special announcement” in his hometown of Middletown next week, likely referencing plans to officially enter the U.S. Senate race.
Vance would join a crowded field of other Republican candidates running to replace retiring Sen. Rob Portman, including former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken and Cleveland businessmen Bernie Moreno and Mike Gibbons. Vance widely has been expected to enter the race and recently hired a campaign staff.
Vance announced his upcoming announcement on Friday, the day before former President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Lorain County. The announcement event itself will fall on the same day a new fundraising period begins for candidates running for Senate and other federal offices, delaying when Vance will have to first disclose to the public and more notably, the other candidates in the race, his campaign’s fundraising activities.
While Vance is a first-time candidate, he would enter the race with a major advantage -- an affiliated Super PAC, Protect Ohio Values, has announced a $10 million donation from PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. While Super PACs are limited in how they can spend money, since they can’t directly coordinate with candidates they support, the donation effectively puts Vance in the lead among Senate candidates in fundraising.
The primary election is scheduled for next May. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, of the Youngstown area, has announced he is running in the race as a Democrat and is viewed as his party’s likely nominee.