CINNCINATTI, Ohio — Former President Donald Trump endorsed J.D. Vance for the U.S. Senate today.
Vance, a staunch supporter of the former president, is running for the Senate seat currently held by Rob Portman.
In a statement, Donald Trump said, “In the great state of Ohio, the candidate most qualified and ready to win in November is J.D. Vance.” The former president went on to say, “It is time for the entire MAGA movement, the greatest in the history of our country, to unite behind J.D.’s campaign.”
Vance rose to prominence with his book, “Hillbilly Elegy” and the financial backing of billionaire Peter Theil.
Vance currently trails behind Republican candidate Josh Mandel. Mandel took to Twitter Friday after learning that he would not be receiving the coveted endorsement. “I continue to be a proud supporter of President Trump and the America First agenda. I look forward to earning his endorsement in the general election and working with him to defeat Tim Ryan in November.”
Ohio Democratic Party Spokesperson Michael Beyer released a statement saying, “With one of the nastiest and most expensive Senate races in the country already at fever pitch this week, Trump’s endorsement will only pour gasoline on this intraparty brawl and make it harder for Republicans to coalesce around whatever out-of-touch millionaire hobbles out of this chaotic primary.”
Embed from Getty ImagesIzzi Levy, spokesperson for Democratic candidate Tim Ryan said, “J.D. Vance is a multi-millionaire elitist who left Ohio behind for Silcon Valley, while Tim Ryan has spent his entire life fighting for the working people whom J.D. spent hundreds of pages disparaging before flip-flop-flipping his way back to the Buckeye State so he could run for Senate. If Donald Trump’s anointment and Big Tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s millions are enough to drag Silcon Valley Vance out of the primary he’s currently losing, we welcome this matchup.”
J.D. Vance will be in Portsmouth on Wednesday for a campaign stop at Mr. Gatti’s Pizza located at 1658 11th Street.