Bestselling author JD Vance has won the US Senate race in Ohio by a wider margin than predicted by opinion polls but with a narrower victory than his fellow Republicans running in other statewide races.
The Democratic candidate, congressman Tim Ryan, has conceded and Vance’s victory retains the seat for the party in a state that has become more solidly Republican in recent years.
The Trump-backed venture capitalist who has never won a general election before faced a competitive challenge from Ryan who at times appeared to be running against his own party’s leadership as much as Vance.
Ryan focused his campaign on promises to support working-class communities hit by deindustrialization and the export of their jobs, which he blamed on the policies of governments of both major parties.
Trump’s support proved crucial in Vance winning the Republican primary but it is not clear whether it was a help or a drag with the broader electorate. Vance faced accusations of insincerity after criticizing Trump as unfit for office when he was president but then embracing him when he needed his endorsement to win the primary.
In the end, Vance may have been saved by widespread disillusionment in Ohio, as elsewhere, over the state of the economy and polls showing that a majority of voters believe President Biden’s policies are making the problem worse.