The 2022 United States Senate election in Ohio was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Ohio. Republican writer and venture capitalist JD Vance defeated Democratic U.S. representative Tim Ryan to succeed retiring incumbent Republican Rob Portman.

Vance won by a 6.1 point margin, which was significantly closer than all other concurrently held elections for statewide offices in Ohio won by Republicans, but fairly consistent with polling for the election. Despite his defeat, Ryan flipped four counties carried by Portman in re-election in 2016: Summit, Montgomery, Hamilton, and Lorain, the latter of which Trump won in 2020; however, Vance scored wins in Ryan's home county of Trumbull and the industrial-based Mahoning County that contains much of Youngstown. Both counties were represented by Ryan in his congressional district.

Vance was endorsed by Donald Trump and became the only candidate in the seven statewide general election races funded by Trump's PAC to win. In 2025, Vance resigned from the Senate to become the 50th vice president of the United States under Trump.

Republican primary As a result of Portman's retirement, this primary was expected to be one of the most competitive in the nation. Due to his high approval ratings within the Republican Party, most of the candidates sought the endorsement of then-former president Donald Trump. Former state treasurer Josh Mandel, who had been the Republican nominee for Senate in 2012, led most polls until late January, when businessman Mike Gibbons surged after spending millions in TV ads. At a forum in March 2022, Gibbons and Mandel got into a forceful argument over Mandel's private sector experience. The debate moderator intervened after it was feared that the two candidates would come to blows. On April 9, Gibbons said that middle-class Americans don't pay enough in income taxes, which immediately led to his poll numbers plummeting. On April 15, Trump endorsed writer and commentator JD Vance, who had criticized him in the past.

Vance had been trailing in the polls, but as a result of Trump's support, he surged to become the race's frontrunner for the first time and led in most polls up to election day. Meanwhile, State Senator Matt Dolan, who disavowed Trump's claims of voter fraud in the 2020 United States presidential election, saw a late surge after buying ad time. Vance won with 32% of the vote with Mandel in second and Dolan in a close third. The primary was considered by many as a test of Trump's influence over the Republican Party as he won Ohio by 8 points in 2020. The primary was also the most expensive in the state's history, with the candidates spending a combined $66 million throughout the campaign.

Candidates

Nominee JD Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy, U.S. Marine Corps veteran, and venture capitalist

Eliminated in primary Matt Dolan, state senator from the 24th district since 2017 and nominee for Cuyahoga County executive in 2010 Mike Gibbons, investment banker (founder of Brown Gibbons Lang & Company) and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2018 Josh Mandel, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Iraq War veteran, former Ohio state treasurer (2011–2019), nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2012 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2018 Neil Patel, businessman Mark Pukita, IT executive Jane Timken, former chair of the Ohio Republican Party (2017–2021)

Withdrawn John Berman, electronic hardware design, test engineer and candidate for U.S. Senate (Minnesota and Kansas) in 2020 Bernie Moreno, businessman

Disqualified Bill Graham, attorney Mike Holt Michael Leipold, MedFlight pilot and retired U.S. Army chief warrant officer MacKenzie Thompson, U.S. Air Force veteran

Declined Troy Balderson, U.S. representative for Ohio's 12th congressional district (2018–present) Warren Davidson, U.S. representative for Ohio's 8th congressional district (2016–present) Anthony Gonzalez, U.S. representative for Ohio's 16th congressional district (2019–2023) Jon Husted, lieutenant governor of Ohio (2019–present) (ran for re-election) Bill Johnson, U.S. representative for Ohio's 6th congressional district (2011–2024) Jim Jordan, U.S. representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district (2007–present) (running for re-election) David Joyce, U.S. representative for Ohio's 14th congressional district (2013–present) (ran for re-election) John Kasich, former governor of Ohio (2011–2019) and candidate for President of the United States in 2000 and 2016 Mark Kvamme, co-founder of Drive Capital Frank LaRose, Ohio secretary of state (2019–present) (endorsed Vance) (ran for re-election) Rob Portman, incumbent U.S. Senator (2011–2023) Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur, author and businessman Jim Renacci, former U.S. representative for Ohio's 16th congressional district (2011–2019) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 (ran for governor) Geraldo Rivera, journalist, author, attorney, and former TV host Darrell C. Scott, pastor and CEO of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump (endorsed Moreno) (expressed interest in running for Ohio's 16th congressional district) Steve Stivers, former U.S. representative for Ohio's 15th congressional district (2011–2021) Pat Tiberi, former U.S. representative for Ohio's 12th congressional district (2001–2018) Jim Tressel, president of Youngstown State University and former Ohio State football coach Mike Turner, U.S. representative for Ohio's 10th congressional district (2003–present) (ran for re-election) Brad Wenstrup, U.S. representative for Ohio's 2nd congressional district (2013–present) (ran for re-election) Dave Yost, attorney general of Ohio (2019–present) and former Ohio state auditor (2011–2019) (ran for re-election)

Endorsements

Polling

Graphical summary

Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdated MattDolan MikeGibbons JoshMandel JaneTimken JDVance OtherMarginReal Clear PoliticsReal Clear PoliticsApril 28 – May 1, 2022May 2, 202221.5%15.0%22.5%7.0%26.0%8.0%Vance +3.5 Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MattDolan MikeGibbons JoshMandel BernieMoreno JaneTimken MikeTurner JDVance Other UndecidedThe Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)April 29 – May 1, 20221,081 (LV)± 3.0%22%13%21%–6%–26%4%9%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeApril 28–29, 2022885 (LV)± 3.2%18%14%22%–7%–24%4%11%Fabrizio Lee (R)Fabrizio Lee (R)April 25–26, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%12%12%19%–8%–31%0%17%Blueprint Polling (D)Blueprint Polling (D)April 21–24, 2022634 (LV)± 3.9%18%13%12%–7%–17%–33%Fox NewsFox NewsApril 20–24, 2022906 (LV)± 3.0%11%13%18%–6%–23%2%25%Fabrizio Lee (R)April 18–19, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%9%13%18%–11%–25%<1%23%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)April 13–14, 20221,078 (LV)± 3.0%12%14%28%–8%–23%3%13%Remington Research Group (R)April 11–12, 2022884 (LV)± 3.3%15%17%23%–12%–10%3%20%Moore Information Group (R)April 3–4, 20222,500 (LV)± 2.0%13%20%16%–15%–10%–26%Fabrizio Lee (R)March 30–31, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%9%18%18%–9%–18%–29%University of AkronUniversity of AkronFebruary 17 – March 15, 2022– (LV)–5%21%22%–6%–10%4%34%Fox NewsFox NewsMarch 2–6, 2022918 (LV)± 3.0%7%22%20%–9%–11%3%24%Emerson CollegeEmerson CollegeFebruary 25–26, 2022410 (LV)± 4.8%6%22%15%–6%–8%4%39%Fabrizio Lee (R)February 23–24, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%8%18%14%–12%–14%–34%Cygnal (R)Cygnal (R)February 8–10, 2022609 (LV)± 4.0%6%23%11%–8%–9%–44%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)February 8–10, 20221,085 (LV)± 3.0%10%16%21%–10%–14%3%25%co/efficient (R)co/efficient (R)February 6–8, 2022613 (LV)± 4.0%7%20%18%–6%–5%10%34% February 3, 2022 Moreno withdraws from the raceWPA Intelligence (R)January 30 – February 1, 2022514 (LV)± 4.4%5%17%28%6%9%–13%–22%Cygnal (R)January 28–30, 2022929 (LV)± 3.2%3%16%13%6%8%–10%–45%Fabrizio Lee (R)Fabrizio Lee (R)January 18–20, 2022800 (LV)± 3.5%3%14%15%11%13%–9%1%34%KAConsulting LLC (R)January 11–13, 2022600 (LV)± 4.0%3%10%20%10%18%–10%–24%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)January 5–6, 2022513 (LV)± 4.4%4%14%26%7%15%–10%8%16%Moore Information Group (R)January 3, 20221,000 (LV)± 3.1%4%14%18%9%16%–8%–31%The Trafalgar Group (R)The Trafalgar Group (R)December 12–15, 20211,053 (LV)± 3.0%5%12%21%2%10%–15%–34%Moore Information Group (R)Moore Information Group (R)November 29, 20211,000 (LV)± 3.1%4%13%21%3%17%–10%–32%Fabrizio Lee (R)November 21–23, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%2%7%18%2%10%6%10%–45%Fabrizio Lee (R)Fabrizio Lee (R)October 17–18, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%3%6%19%1%4%7%16%–43%Moore Information Group (R)September 2021– (LV)–6%12%22%3%11%–9%–37%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)September 20–23, 2021510 (LV)± 4.3%3%8%37%1%6%–13%6%26%Remington Research Group (R)Remington Research Group (R)September 6–7, 2021980 (LV)± 3.0%2%5%34%2%11%–16%–30%Fabrizio Lee (R)August 17–19, 2021800 (LV)± 3.5%2%4%19%1%5%5%13%–51%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)July 27–29, 2021500 (LV)± 4.4%3%3%40%1%8%–12%13%20%Fabrizio Lee (R)Fabrizio Lee (R)July 20–22, 2021800 (LV)± 3.5%1%2%21%2%7%7%12%–48%Fabrizio Lee (R)June 15–17, 2021800 (LV)± 3.5%2%2%22%1%8%6%4%–55%Remington Research Group (R)Remington Research Group (R)June 1–3, 20211,040 (LV)± 3.0%2%5%35%2%16%–6%–34%Moore Information Group (R)Moore Information Group (R)May 26, 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%2%7%24%1%19%8%4%–35%Moore Information Group (R)April 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%–1%23%1%14%7%4%–37%Fabrizio Lee (R)April 20–22, 2021800 (LV)± 3.5%–2%25%2%8%7%6%–51%Moore Information Group (R)March 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%–2%28%–11%7%2%–37%Moore Information Group (R)February 2021600 (LV)± 4.0%–2%20%–5%8%––50%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeGibbons JoshMandel BernieMoreno SteveStivers JaneTimken UndecidedRemington Research Group (R)June 1–3, 20211,040 (LV)± 3.0%–45%––22%33%WPA Intelligence (R)WPA Intelligence (R)February 1–3, 2021509 (LV)± 4.4%3%38%2%11%6%39%

Results

By county