‘This is a Tough Time to Be in Public Service’ Ohio GOP Sen. Portman Announces That He Won’t Run for Re-Election in 2022

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman (R) issued a statement today announcing that he will not seek re-election for a third term in 2022. At the conclusion of his term, Portman will have served a 24-year stint in Congress, 12 years in the House and 12 in the Senate.

“We live in an increasingly polarized country where members of both parties are being pushed further to the right and further to the left, and that means too few people who are actively looking to find common ground … This is a tough time to be in public service,” Portman said in the statement.

Sen. Portman: “We live in an increasingly polarized country where members of both parties are being pushed further to the right and further to the left, and that means too few people who are actively looking to find common ground … This is a tough time to be in public service.” https://t.co/3fIqqQ9WBK

— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 25, 2021

Ohio city councilman and conservative Republican Aaron J. Carpenter weighed in on Portman’s pending departure and said, “This is great news for Ohioans! We will have one less RINO in the US Senate.”

Carpenter then asked, “Who will run for his seat?…” Carpenter is the youngest elected official in history of Marysville, OH, and wouldn’t be eligible to run for senate until 2026. Many of the respondents suggested House Rep. Jim Jordan as a potential replacement candidate.

Today, Ohio’s “Republican” Senator @robportman announced that he has “made a decision not to run again in 2022."

This is great news for Ohioans! We will have one less RINO in the US Senate.

Who will run for his seat?… 🤔

— Aaron J. Carpenter🇺🇸 (@aaronjcarpenter) January 25, 2021

Carpenter then quote tweeted a Jan. 5 tweet where he had tagged Portman and said, “2020 made me realize which Republicans, particularly in my State of Ohio, could not possibly earn my vote ever again. Sen. Rob Portman, if you do NOT object to certifying Fraud — you have joined this list. This is disappointing because I’ve fully supported you up until this point!”

In the quote tweet, Carpenter alluded to the previous tweet and said, “Portman did a lot of good, conservative things in office. For most of his tenure as my Senator, I supported him. However, after he abandoned President Trump, and refused to challenge Electoral Certification, I said I’d never vote for him again. Thankfully, I will not have to!”

Portman did a lot of good, conservative things in office. For most of his tenure as my Senator, I supported him. However, after he abandoned President Trump, and refused to challenge Electoral Certification, I said I’d never vote for him again.

Thankfully, I will not have to! https://t.co/clDCrxZR1y

— Aaron J. Carpenter🇺🇸 (@aaronjcarpenter) January 25, 2021

Democrats are also celebrating the news, as they feel that it gives them a chance to win, as they already have control of the other seat in the state.

Liberal Twitter account “The Hoarse Whisperer,” claimed it’s “Time to flip an Ohio senate seat, folks. Imagine trading out Rob Portman for another Sherrod Brown? I would weep.”

Time to flip an Ohio senate seat, folks.

Imagine trading out Rob Portman for another Sherrod Brown?

I would weep. https://t.co/xhzL6w3lB1

— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) January 25, 2021