"Top Senate Republicans have quietly reached out to J.D. Vance — the star author of 'Hillbilly Elegy' — about running for Senate in Ohio after the abrupt withdrawal of GOP candidate Josh Mandel last week," Politico reports.

• "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has spoken with Vance about a potential bid."
• "Mandel announced on Friday that he would exit from the Ohio Senate race — one of the more high-profile battles in the 2018 midterm elections — due to his wife’s health issues."
• "McConnell has told associates that he would prioritize the race [for funding] if Vance jumps in."