Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has announced that he will run for the Senate in 2016. If he wins his primary, he would run against first term Senator Rob Portman. “I’m running for the United States Senate in 2016 because I am determined to restore the American Dream for working people in this country,” Strickland is quoted saying, “I believe in the American Dream because I’ve lived it.” This is a major recruitment for the Democrats, who are hoping to retake the Senate in 2016.
Strickland will be going up against P.G. Sittenfeld in the primaries. Sittenfeld announced in January his plans to run. There is some speculation that Sittenfeld will drop out before the primaries.
Previously, Strickland served six terms in the House, non-consecutively. After that, he served as Governor of Ohio from 2007 to 2011.
Strickland is known for his progressive views in the House and as Governor. “I’ve always been unashamedly an advocate for regular working people. I came from the working class. I consider myself a part of the working class, I try to look out for the needs of the working people. I certainly intend to do that as a senator, and so that’s my motivation, to make sure that everybody has a fair shot.”