CLEVELAND — The road to Election Day is heating up in Ohio, as recent polls show the two candidates running to represent the Buckeye State in the U.S. Senate are in a tight race. 

 

What You Need To Know

  • Democrat Tim Ryan and Republican JD Vance squared off in the first of two Ohio U.S. Senate candidate debates Monday in Cleveland

  • The economy was brought up as a primary issue this election season

  • The candidates are scheduled to take part in another debate Oct. 17 in Youngstown

Voters are getting a chance to hear Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan and Republican JD Vance talk about the issues during two debates ahead of the election. 

The first debate was in Cleveland on Monday. The current state of the economy was a key talking point. 

“I believe we’ve gone in a fundamentally bad direction the last couple of years,” Vance said. “I think people deserve to go to the grocery store without it completely breaking the bank.”

Vance put forth his case for change, while Ryan called out Vance for contributing to the country’s inflation problems by investing overseas. 

“JD Vance invested in companies in China,” Ryan said. “The problem we’re having right now with inflation is our supply chains all went to China.”

Ryan, currently serving his tenth term in Congress, visited with reporters after the debate. He said his record shows support for economic development opportunities in the state. 

“We’ve got significant accomplishments even in the last few months here,” he said. “Bi-partisan Infrastructure Bill that’s gonna create 600,000 jobs, the CHIPS Act, which is gonna be the first step to an industrial policy in this country.”

Vance voiced his opposition to the Infrastructure Bill while onstage during the debate. 

“When you’re talking about $6 trillion, there’s a lot of money that isn’t well spent and that’s fundamentally the problem with what we’ve seen out of the Biden administration,” Vance said. 

Vance declined the opportunity to meet with reporters after the debate. Jai Chabria, Vance’s campaign manager, said the candidate went to meet with his supporters. 

“For us, strategically, all we really needed to do was expose Tim Ryan as the 20-year career politician who’s had his chance,” Chabria said. “I think JD did that effectively.”

Chabria touted Vance’s endorsement by former President Donald Trump as a selling point for potential undecided voters. 

“Donald Trump gave voice to millions,” he said. “And this is what people still don’t understand in the media. They don’t understand it on the pundits. He gave voice to millions who were disaffected and I don’t think that’s a liability at all.”

Ryan called the author and investment capitalist Vance out of touch with the interests of Ohioans. 

“The fact that he said if you’re a 55-year-old worker you need to just come to grips with the fact that you’re never gonna have a good job again,” Ryan said. “That’s an insult.”

Ryan said he wants to help bridge the political divide and said good ideas can come from both sides of the aisle. 

“I think we need to move away from the culture wars that have divided this country and stay focused on the economic issues,” Ryan said. “And I think if we do that, we can start healing the breach here in this country and move forward.”

The second and final Ohio U.S. Senate debate is scheduled for Monday in Youngstown. 

Election Day is Nov. 8.