As a result of Portman's retirement, this primary was expected to be one of the most competitive in the nation. Due to his high approval ratings within the Republican Party, most of the candidates sought the endorsement of then-former president
Donald Trump. Former state treasurer
Josh Mandel, who had been the Republican nominee for Senate in
2012, led most polls until late January, when businessman Mike Gibbons surged after spending millions in TV ads. At a forum in March 2022, Gibbons and Mandel got into a forceful argument over Mandel's private sector experience. The debate moderator intervened after it was feared that the two candidates would come to blows. On April 9, Gibbons said that middle-class Americans don't pay enough in income taxes, which immediately led to his poll numbers plummeting. On April 15, Trump endorsed writer and commentator
JD Vance, who had criticized him in the past. Vance had been trailing in the polls, but as a result of Trump's support, he surged to become the race's frontrunner for the first time and led in most polls up to election day. Meanwhile, State Senator
Matt Dolan, who disavowed Trump's claims of voter fraud in the
2020 United States presidential election, saw a late surge after buying ad time. Vance won with 32% of the vote with Mandel in second and Dolan in a close third. The primary was considered by many as a test of Trump's influence over the
Republican Party as he won Ohio by 8 points in
2020. The primary was also the most expensive in the state's history, with the candidates spending a combined $66 million throughout the campaign.
Candidates Nominee •
JD Vance, author of
Hillbilly Elegy, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and venture capitalist
Eliminated in primary •
Matt Dolan, state senator from the
24th district since 2017 and nominee for Cuyahoga County executive in
2010 • Mike Gibbons, investment banker (founder of
Brown Gibbons Lang & Company) and candidate for the U.S. Senate in
2018 •
Bernie Moreno, businessman •
Warren Davidson, U.S. representative for
Ohio's 8th congressional district (2016–present) •
Anthony Gonzalez, U.S. representative for
Ohio's 16th congressional district (2019–2023) •
Jon Husted,
lieutenant governor of Ohio (2019–present)
(ran for re-election) •
Bill Johnson, U.S. representative for
Ohio's 6th congressional district (2011–2024) •
Jim Jordan, U.S. representative for
Ohio's 4th congressional district (2007–present)
(running for re-election) •
David Joyce, U.S. representative for
Ohio's 14th congressional district (2013–present)
(ran for re-election) •
John Kasich, former
governor of Ohio (2011–2019) and candidate for
President of the United States in
2000 and
2016 •
Mark Kvamme, co-founder of
Drive Capital •
Rob Portman, incumbent U.S. Senator (2011–2023) •
Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur, author and businessman •
Jim Renacci, former U.S. representative for
Ohio's 16th congressional district (2011–2019) and nominee for U.S. Senate in
2018 (
ran for governor) •
Geraldo Rivera, journalist, author, attorney, and former TV host •
Darrell C. Scott, pastor and CEO of the
National Diversity Coalition for Trump (
endorsed Moreno) (''expressed interest in running for
Ohio's 16th congressional district'') •
Steve Stivers, former U.S. representative for
Ohio's 15th congressional district (2011–2021) •
Pat Tiberi, former U.S. representative for
Ohio's 12th congressional district (2001–2018) •
Jim Tressel, president of
Youngstown State University and former
Ohio State football coach •
Mike Turner, U.S. representative for
Ohio's 10th congressional district (2003–present)
(ran for re-election) Endorsements Polling Graphical summary Results By county Source ==Democratic primary==