Tribune Chronicle: Ryan receives Beatty endorsement in bid for US Senate

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, the only declared Democrat candidate for next year's Senate race, picked up the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty and now has secured the support of the only two other Democrats from Ohio serving in the House with him.

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, the other Ohio representative and currently the longest-serving woman in the House, endorsed Ryan, D-Howland, early in his campaign.

Beatty, who also is chairwoman of the influential Congressional Black Caucus, said Friday of Ryan: "In the Senate, I know Tim will be a great advocate for families in central Ohio and across our state, working to bring down health care costs, helping our businesses succeed and investing in our kids' schools to create more opportunity for all Ohioans."

There was a fourth Ohio Democrat in the House, but Marcia Fudge resigned earlier this year to become secretary of U.S. Housing and Urban Development. Shontel Brown won the Democratic primary to succeed Fudge in the 11th District this past Tuesday. As the district is heavily Democratic, she's a heavy favorite to win the seat in the Nov. 2 general election. She hasn't issued an endorsement for Senate.

Ryan has received the endorsements of more than 200 current and former elected officials and Democratic leaders in Ohio as well as 18 labor unions and the Ohio AFL-CIO.

The one key endorsement that eludes Ryan is U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland, the only elected statewide Democrat in Ohio besides state Supreme Court justices, who ran without party affiliations in the general election.

Brown's campaign said he isn't endorsing candidates at this time, but has "great confidence" in Ryan.

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, announced Jan. 25 that he wouldn't seek a third six-year term next year.

The article was originally published by the Tribune Chronicle on August 7, 2021.