Rep. Jim Renacci (right), who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the GOP nomination over businessman Mike Gibbons | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo Renacci wins Ohio GOP Senate primary

Rep. Jim Renacci won the Republican Senate primary in Ohio Tuesday night, advancing to the general election against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Renacci, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, won the GOP nomination over businessman Mike Gibbons. Renacci had 45 percent of the vote to businessman Mike Gibbons' 33 percent when The Associated Press called the race just before 9:30 p.m. Eastern, with about 40 percent of precincts reporting.


Renacci, a four-term congressman whose district includes suburbs of Cleveland and Akron, began the year as a candidate for governor of Ohio. But state Treasurer Josh Mandel, who lost to Brown in 2012 and had been angling for a rematch since, suddenly dropped out of the race in January, citing his wife’s health. Renacci then abandoned his gubernatorial campaign and switched to the Senate race.

Both Gibbons and Renacci sought to frame themselves as the ultimate outsider candidate. Gibbons cast himself as a newcomer to the political candidate arena (though he had previously donated to Republican campaigns), while Renacci highlighted his disgust with the Washington D.C. status quo — and, during his time in the gubernatorial race, his desire to return home to Ohio.

When Mandel dropped out and Renacci began discussing the possibility of switching races with the White House and Senate Republican officials, Renacci stressed his desire to have Trump’s clear backing. He got it, in the form of Trump’s seal of approval via tweet and a trip on Air Force One.

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With Trump’s support and personal wealth, Renacci quickly became the frontrunner. Renacci loaned his campaign $4 million in the first quarter, which he finished with $4.2 million in his campaign account. And he ran TV ads touting Trump’s endorsement, which the president reiterated in a recent trip to Ohio.

But Gibbons ran hard for the Republican nomination and last week sued Renacci for defamation over statements about his positions during the primary.

Brown was unopposed in the Democratic primary and has been gearing up for a difficult re-election race since beating Mandel six years ago. Trump carried Ohio by 8 points, 51 percent to 43 percent, in 2016.

Brown had over $12.2 million built up in his campaign account as of April 18, the last disclosure date.

See live results here.