Tim Ryan bashes Dems as J.D. Vance takes lead in polls in Ohio Senate race
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, during a Souls to the Polls rally at Mount Hermon Baptist Church on Nov. 5 in Columbus, Ohio. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) distanced himself this week from the Democratic Party as polls show J.D. Vance holding a slim advantage in the Ohio Senate race.
Driving the news: "The National Democratic Party has never been really good at strategic political decisions," Ryan said on CNN this week.
- "Thank God that I have enough experience that I've built this campaign not needing them and we really don't want them at this point."
- "We're going to do this thing with all the grassroots people we have here," he said.
The big picture: Ryan is locked into a tight race with Vance, an ally of former President Trump, but polls last week show that the Republican candidate carries a slight lead.
- Ryan is one of the highest-fundraising Senate candidates in the country, according to USA Today, but he has received less support from national party groups than Vance, Axios' Mary Jane Sanese writes.
- But in the final stretch of the midterm campaign, Ryan has drawn the attention of some celebrities, including a Dave Matthews Band performance.
- Trump-endorsed Vance has earned support from Republican Party lawmakers, including Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.).
Between the lines: Ohio is a red-trending state that Trump won by eight points in 2020.
Go deeper... JD Vance and Tim Ryan spar over racism in heated Senate debate