In what is turning out to be one of the most expensive Senate races this election, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman raised $3.8 million in the second quarter to finish June with more than $13 million in hand in his attempt to win his election against former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland,
Politico reports.
The Ohio Senate race is seen as one of the key ones in the country as Democrats hope to pick up at least four seats to capture a majority in the Senate, assuming that Donald Trump loses the presidential race and a Democratic vice president holds the tie-breaking vote.
Polls show the two candidates are currently in a virtual tie.
Portman reportedly plans to use much of the money in ad campaigns to attack Strickland and also to ward off any down-ticket problems the Republican might potentially face with Trump as the GOP presidential candidate.
The Washington Examiner reports that Portman this week released a new ad campaign highlighting the senator's efforts to keep duties in place against steel imports from China, a country which the senator says has been trying to create an unfair playing field in trade.
The ads stress that Portman's efforts have helped protect Ohio jobs and features employees of a steel company saying he is fighting for the American worker.
Strickland has not yet reported his second quarter fundraising figures, but had far less than Portman with $2.7 million on hand at the end of March. According to FEC filings, however, outside groups have already spent more than $26 million on the Ohio race.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.