– Jane Timken entered the Stark County Republican Party headquarters to welcoming eyes and applause.
Timken, the former Ohio Republican Party leader, is running for U.S. Senate after Sen. Rob Portman decided not to seek re-election in 2022.
Former state Treasurer Josh Mandel and businessman Bernie Moreno also are seeking the Republican nomination. U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is expected to run for the Democrats.
Timken, a longtime Stark County resident, jumpstarted her campaign Tuesday by launching canvassing and phone bank operations in central and northern Ohio, the first 2022 campaign to start such efforts.
Timken told The Canton Repository that she is a "huge believer" in reaching out to voters and listening. She said the last election cycle, "we set a record here in Ohio" with 13 million voter contacts.