NILES, Ohio- Ohio 13th Congressional District Congressman Tim Ryan, a Niles Democrat and former presidential candidate, announced Monday that he will run next year for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen Rob Portman, who is not seeking reelection and announced earlier this year that he is retiring from Congress in 2022.

Ryan's announcement comes as Ohio will lose one of its 16 congressional seats' due to the 2020 census report, and following redistricting by the state legislature, Republicans currently holding 12 of those 16 House of Representatives seats.

“I am running to fight like hell in the U.S Senate to cut workers in on the deal,” Congressman Ryan said in a press release. “Ohioans are working harder than ever, they’re doing everything right, and they’re still falling behind. Countries all over the world are investing billions in infrastructure, education, health care, and their workforce to out-compete American businesses and workers.”

Ryan, 47 and in Congress since 2013, currently represents Youngstown, Warren and Akron and is the first Democrat to declare he is running for the powerful seat as Democrats now hold a narrow lead over Republicans in U.S. Senate.

His Mahoning Valley district has lost manufacturing in droves and he says his campaign will promote jobs, workers, education and more.

The congressman joins former Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel, former Ohio Republican chair Jane Timken and businessman Bernie Moreno, all Republicans, as announced candidates.

U.S Sen Sherrod Brown is the only Democrat in Ohio holding statewide office, other than three judges on the largely Republican Ohio Supreme Court.

Born in Niles, Ryan worked as an aide to U.S. Representative Jim Traficant after graduating from Bowling Green State University.

He served in the Ohio Senate from 2001 to 2002 before winning the election to succeed Traficant.

In 2013, Ryan married Andrea Zetts, his second wife.

They have lived in Howland Township near Warren, Ohio, since that year.

In 2014, they had a son, Brady.

Ryan also lives with Zetts's two children from a previous relationship.

In November 2016, Ryan launched an unsuccessful challenge to unseat Nancy Pelosi as party leader of the House Democrats.

He was a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination before ending his campaign on Oct 24, 2019 to run for reelection.

On November 3, 2020, the Associated Press called the district's election results in favor of Ryan.

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