Ohio Sen. Rob Portman’s decision not to run sets off mad Republican scramble for open seat
Updated Jan 25, 2021;
Posted Jan 25, 2021
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020 in Washington. On Monday, Portman announced he would not seek re-election in 2022, setting up a competitive primary for his possible successor. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)AP
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CLEVELAND, Ohio – Republican Sen. Rob Portman’s bombshell announcement that he would not seek re-election in 2022 has set off a mad scramble among Ohio Republicans for the chance to take a seat in the upper chamber of Congress.
Portman, 65, has been a formidable Republican presence in the state, handily winning both his elections in 2010 and 2016, contributing significantly to Democrats’ dwindling influence statewide. His announcement that he wouldn’t seek a third term, while long-speculated, still caught Republicans off guard with no clear heir apparent. Portman’s a