Ohio Republican rep to run for Senate: report

Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) will run for Ohio’s Senate seat in 2018 with encouragement from President Trump’s political team, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Wednesday.

The Ohio congressman’s decision comes after former top Republican Senate candidate and Ohio state treasurer Josh Mandel surprisingly ended his bid last week, citing his wife’s health issues.

Renacci, who was running for Ohio governor, will end that campaign and instead turn his attention to the race to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).

Renacci is expected to make an announcement about a Senate bid Thursday morning.

The Enquirer reported that White House officials met with Renacci on Wednesday and see him as an ally given his support for Trump’s agenda.

Trump won Ohio by 8 percentage points in 2016.

Renacci will join wealthy businessman Mike Gibbons, who is currently the only other Republican in the primary. Since Mandel’s exit, Gibbons has rolled out more local endorsements and pledged to spend an additional $5 million for his campaign.

J.D. Vance, the author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” is reportedly seriously considering a Senate bid and is in Washington this week to meet with Republicans about it.