The already crowded Republican field for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated next year by Rob Portman has grown by one. Venture capitalist and 鈥淗illbilly Elegy鈥� author J.D. Vance announced he'll enter the race in Middletown.
When Vance moved back from the Silicon Valley a few years ago, he said was happy to be in Ohio.
鈥淭his is home and I鈥檓 definitely plan to stay here," Vance said.
The one-time critic of former President Trump has taken a softer view of him in recent months and was at Trump鈥檚 rally in Lorain County last weekend.
He joins a big field of candidates for the GOP nomination that includes former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, former Ohio Republican Chair Jane Timken as well as Cleveland-area businessmen Bernie Moreno and Mike Gibbons. On the Democratic side, three candidates include Congressman Tim Ryan.
Vance brings a campaign war chest of more than $10 million with him, including financial backing from Paypal Co-founder Peter Thiel, a close Trump ally.
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