Columbus Dispatch
Senator Rob Portman will not be running for re-election in 2022. This announcement just came in via the Columbus Dispatch. Portman cited “partisan gridlock” as the reason he was retiring.
It will be interesting to see who decides to file for election for this seat. On the GOP side, this could set up a primary between the Trumpist wing of the party and more moderate Republicons. It could be former congressman Jim Renacci, who ran against incumbent senator Sherrod Brown in 2018. Other Trumpist tools, like Rep. Jim Jordan, might also enter the race. We could also see more mainstream GOP politicians enter the race— think Lt. Gov. John Husted.
On the Democratic side, there is a lack of statewide officeholders who have the same kind of name recognition as Brown. Maybe it will be a congressman or congresswoman instead, such as Rep. Tim Ryan. The Democratic candidate may have a better shot at this seat than one might expect, given the division in the GOP right now and the likelihood that they will be more divided by the time the election rolls around.
One additional thought: is Portman using this announcement to put distance between him and the Trumpists and possibly break with the Trumpist line on impeachment and votes on Biden’s legislative agenda? Only time will tell.