CLEVELAND, Ohio — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Youngstown-area Democrat, will decide in the “next couple of weeks” whether to launch a campaign for governor in 2018.
“I’m having a lot of conversations with my wife about it,” he told cleveland.com in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. “We have three kids … and you’re talking about a commitment of checking out for two years in order to do it and what that looks like for the family.”
Ryan is among the top prospects in a potentially crowded Democratic field. Others considering a run include Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill; former State Rep. Connie Pillich; Ohio Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni; former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, who recently left her federal job at the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.; Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley; and Jay Williams, a former Youngstown mayor and Obama administration official.
Many expect the race to remain unsettled until Ryan makes up his mind and until Richard Cordray’s future as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is clearer. President Donald Trump might gut the agency and attempt to fire Cordray — a move that could send the former Ohio attorney general back home to run for governor as a progressive martyr.
“In fairness to everyone else,” Ryan said when pressed about his “next couple of weeks” deadline, “I need to get moving and start raising money or let someone else do it.”
A few other items of note from the interview:
Ryan is weighing where he would be most content. “I’m in a good spot in D.C.,” he said, noting his spot as ranking Democrat on an appropriations subcommittee and other assignments.
An unsuccessful bid to unseat House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi after last November’s election also helped raised Ryan’s profile. He sees a role for himself in shaping a new national Democratic Party. “To some extent,” he said, “that would go away if you run for governor.”
Ryan believes Youngstown gives him a good story to tell. In his campaign against Pelosi, a prototypical West Coast liberal, Ryan emphasized his working-class roots in flyover country. He won re-election by a large margin even as Trumbull County, his home base, broke for Trump — the first time voters there backed a Republican for president since Richard Nixon. (The GOP included Ryan on a list of 2018 targets this week, but that seems like a fool’s errand.)
“It’s funny how life works,” Ryan said. “Maybe 15 years ago, 20 years ago, being the working-class kid from Youngstown, Ohio may not have been a great place to be either statewide or nationally. But I think today, places like Youngstown are seen as needing a voice.”
Ryan is keeping tabs on other potential Youngstown candidates. Schiavoni, who also lives in the area, has stepped up his efforts but has acknowledged interest in the congressional seat if Ryan runs for governor. Ryan said he has been in contact with Schiavoni and Williams, the former Youngstown mayor who most recently served as an assistant secretary of commerce. As good of a story as Youngstown may be, it’s hard to picture all three in the primary.
“I consider both of them friends,” Ryan said. “I want to keep them in the loop.”
Ryan is sound-bite ready for Republicans: Gov. John Kasich is term-limited. Attorney General Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Jon Husted, U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor are positioning themselves as the best GOP successor.
“They’ve been in charge and things haven’t improved,” Ryan said. “It’s disgraceful what has happened in our state. I think there’s an opening for a Democrat to prosecute that case.”
Ryan doesn’t think this is his last chance. This isn’t the first time Ryan has considered a run for governor. He also has weighed bids for Senate. His run for minority leader was the first time he made good on flirtations with higher office. It is clear he feels comfortable in Congress. Does he worry that teasing another run for governor and passing would hurt his future prospects?
“No,” Ryan said. “I’m only 43. A lot of people start their political careers when they’re 43.”
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