Ohio Republican Jon Husted won’t run for U.S. Senate seat in 2022

“My public service skills and passion are at the state level,” he said in a statement posted to Twitter. As lieutenant governor, Husted’s focus has been on economic development, workforce development and applying technology to government functions.

In a surprise announcement on Monday, Portman said he won’t seek a third term in the U.S. Senate, citing the political gridlock and rancor.

“It’s a toxic environment, let’s face it. There are a lot of people who are on one extreme or the other. That makes it more difficult for someone like me,” Portman said Tuesday in a call with reporters. “I don’t think President Trump has been helpful in closing that partisan gap. I think the partisan gridlock has been building for decades but I think he contributed to it.”

Husted ran in the GOP primary for governor but joined Greene County Republican Mike DeWine as his running mate in late 2017. The DeWine-Husted team was elected in 2018.

Husted, who grew up in Montpelier in northwest Ohio, was a standout defensive player for the University of Dayton. He represented Kettering in the Ohio General Assembly for 10 years and served as House speaker. He was first elected statewide in 2011 as secretary of state and re-elected in 2014.

Republicans who could be interested in running for Portman’s seat include Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, Attorney General Dave Yost, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and others.

Timken and Jordan are closely aligned with former president Donald Trump, who won Ohio by eight percentage points in 2016 and 2020.

Two Democrats — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley — are considering whether to run for governor or senator. Cleveland.com reported that former Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Amy Acton might also be considering running for senator.