Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy, could push Senate Republicans further to the MAGA right.
Republican J.D. Vance — a veteran, author, and venture capitalist — has won the Ohio Senate race, defeating Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan and keeping a key seat under Republican control.
Vance was widely expected to win the race in the state, which has increasingly leaned red in recent years, though Ryan was able to pick up momentum in recent weeks. Vance, who secured former President Donald Trump’s nomination in a chaotic primary by pivoting hard to the right, won by emphasizing economic issues, including bringing jobs back to the state and the effects of higher living costs.
He also waded into social issues, saying it would be a “good idea” to set a “minimal national standard” for abortion much like Sen. Lindsey Graham’s 15-week abortion ban does, while questioning the need for exceptions in abortion bans. Vance has backed Trump’s unfounded claims questioning the results of the 2020 election as well.
