Jim Renacci Announces Bid For Senate, Drops Out Of Governor Race

CLEVELAND, OH — U.S. Representative Jim Renacci is abandoning his bid to be governor so that he can challenge Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown in 2018. Renacci, who represents Ohio's 16th Congressional district, was swayed to run against Brown by President Donald Trump and his advisers.

The apparent front runner for the Republican nomination for Senate was Josh Mandel, until about a week ago when he abruptly dropped out of the race. Mandel cited his wife's health for exiting the campaign.

Mandel's exit left Republicans with about a month to find a suitable challenger for Brown. Vice President Mike Pence even planned to visit the Buckeye State to try and convince a prominent Republican to join the race. Now it appears Pence may be doing fundraising with Renacci.

"While my strong distaste for Washington and the political establishment is as fervent as ever, so too is my commitment to advancing the President’s agenda for a stronger and more prosperous America," Renacci said Thursday in an email to his supporters. "And for that reason, I’ve agreed to answer the call to service and enter the race for United States Senate."

He went on to describe Brown as a "far left, career politician."

Renacci will have to beat out Cleveland-area businessman Mike Gibbons who was Mandel's primary challenger for the Senate nomination. Mandel was beating Gibbons in fundraising, but Gibbons has been campaigning for Senate for months. He has a significant head start on Renacci.

Brown has been consolidating his support and rallying supporters to his cause. He told supporters via email that he finished 2017 with nearly $10 million in the bank and raised $2.5 million in the fourth quarter of last year.

"Congressman Jim Renacci is a reliable ally for right-wing special interest groups. Outside groups have spent big to boost his past campaigns," Brown's campaign said in an email sent to supporters on Thursday.

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite