Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorses ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author J.D. Vance in GOP Ohio Senate race
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has endorsed “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance in the crowded Ohio Republican Senate primary race.
The firebrand supporter of former President Trump called Vance a “conservative warrior” who would bring MAGA values to the Senate.
“JD Vance is the conservative warrior that the entire America First movement needs fighting for us in the U.S. Senate,” said Greene, in a statement. “And that’s why I’m proud to endorse him.”
Vance, a former Marine and author of the acclaimed heartland memoir, is a rising conservative star and a prolific fundraiser.
But he has struggled to gain traction in the crowded Republican primary to succeed Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) in the red-trending Buckeye state.
Josh Mandel, a former state treasurer and failed 2012 Senate candidate, has led in some polls. Ex-GOP state party chair Jane Timken is also a frontrunner along with businessman Bernie Moreno and investment banker Mike Gibbons.
All the candidates are portraying themselves as strong Trump supporters, even though Vance and others have had to explain away previous harsh criticism of the former president.
With the GOP primary electorate firmly in Trump’s corner, the endorsement of MTG is a coveted win for Vance as will help strengthen his MAGA bona fides.
The winner of the Republican primary will likely face Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), a moderate and former Democratic presidential candidate. The GOP candidate will almost certainly be favored given Ohio’s recent swing to the right.
