Ohio: Mandel Closer to Nomination

Author J.D. Vance, who had publicly speculated about running for either US Senator or Governor, announced over the weekend that he would do neither.   The Governor’s race is much too crowded, and there appeared to be no path to the Republican nomination in a field that includes the Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and a member of Congress.  Mr. Vance also staying out of the Senate race gives state Treasurer and 2012 federal nominee Josh Mandel a continued unobstructed path to the party nomination.  With him raising substantially more money for September than the $4.29 million he reported in June, it is becoming evident that we will see a general election re-match between Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Mr. Mandel. 
 
In 2012, the Senator was re-elected to a second term with a 51-45% margin.  In that year, however, Sen. Brown ran with President Obama at the top of the ticket, therefore improving the Democratic turnout model.  The Democratic incumbent will not have that particular advantage next year.

--Jim Ellis