Vance, the “Hillbilly Elegy” author who was a searing Donald Trump critic before converting into one of his most loyal allies, has defeated Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan in Ohio’s Senate race, NBC News projects.
Portman’s prior success and Trump’s two comfortable Ohio victories made Ryan, 49, a heavy underdog.
Polls from the summer and into early fall showed Ryan tied with Vance, though surveys in the closing weeks suggested Vance was pulling ahead.
Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan speaks in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday.
Vance, by contrast, had little money to counter Ryan’s ads and drew complaints from Ohio GOP leaders that he was coasting toward the general election.