Almost immediately after Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) announced on Monday that he will not be running for reelection in 2022, many took to social media to speculate that former Ohio State football head coach Jim Tressel might run for his open seat.
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After all, if Tommy Tuberville can win a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama, as he did this past November, why can't the head coach whose nickname is literally "The Senator" do so in the state where he's won five national championships?
But despite the social media speculation, it doesn't appear that Tressel will be leaving the Buckeye State for Washington D.C. anytime soon. Speaking to Henry Gomez of BuzzFeed News, the now-Youngstown State President said he doesn't have any intentions of leaving his current job.
"Too busy here at YSU to run for the Senate," said Tressel, who publicly endorsed former Ohio Governor John Kasich, a Republican, during his presidential run in 2016. "It is time for the young guys to step up."
Despite Tressel remaining on the political sidelines, there has been no shortage of speculation regarding potential candidates who could run to replace Portman in 2022.
As far as Republicans are concerned, Rep. Jim Jordan, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, Attorney general David Yost, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, former Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel and venture capitalist/author J.D. Vance have all been mentioned as potential candidates. Meanwhile, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, Rep. Tim Ryan, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and even former Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton have been speculated to be potential Democratic nominees.