Ryan Emphasizes Worker-Centric Focus in Senate Bid

WARREN, Ohio – In his first press appearance since launching his campaign for U.S. Senate, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan emphasized reaching out to workers as the core of his strategy to win back traditionally Democratic voters who have trended Republican in recent statewide and local elections.

Ryan, D-13 Ohio, met with local reporters outside the Trumbull County Courthouse about an hour after the 8 a.m. release of the campaign video announcing his bid for U.S. Senate.

“People in Ohio want someone who’s going to fight like hell for them and work to cut them in on the deal, and that’s what we’re going to do. They want someone who understands they’ve been working harder than ever before and doing everything right and still can’t get ahead,” he said. “We’re just going to talk about my record and talk about their concerns and how we’re going to fight for them.”

The campaign will kick off with a “Workers First” tour that will begin Tuesday in Cleveland, he said.

During the news conference, Ryan echoed many of the themes of his announcement video. It showed the congressman taking his young son, Brady, on a tour of significant places in his life including his childhood home and where he played football, and shared his philosophy about helping businesses and workers.

“Right now, our workers need a game plan,” he said. “In my mind, there’s nothing more patriotic than investing in our team, our people, our workers.”

Ryan stressed repeatedly during the news conference that America and Ohio are at a “crossroads.” He called for working with business owners to help them expand their companies, add workers and “be more competitive” against foreign companies and countries “that are dumping tons of money into the economy of the future.”

He continued, “We need to dominate that economy.”

Ryan said his campaign would focus on workers regardless of race or gender, and he would emphasize his record on their behalf throughout his political career. “We’re going to continue to work hard to cut them in on the deal, he said.

The campaign will begin rolling out endorsements later this week, he said. To date, Ryan is the only candidate for the Democratic Party nomination.

He pushed back on the idea that congressional redistricting – which likely will result in Ohio losing a congressional district following the 2020 U.S. Census – played a role in his decision to seek the Senate seat.

The field of declared candidates for the Republican nomination already includes former state treasurer Josh Mandel, former Ohio Republican Party chairwoman Jane Timken and two Cleveland area businessmen, with potential bids by others including “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance.

The current Ohio GOP chairman, Bob Paduchik, issued a statement deriding Ryan’s entry into the race. His “support of radical left-wing policies do not represent the values of Ohio’s working men and women,” he argued.

“For years, Tim Ryan has tried to pass himself off as a champion for the working class. Sadly, his support of job killing policies show he is just another fast-talking politician looking for a bigger job,” he said

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.