Sittenfeld: Yes, I'm running for U.S. Senate

Ohio's next U.S. Senate election isn't until November 2016, but Democratic Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld exclusively told The Enquirer: "I'm in."

He hopes to take on incumbent U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Terrace Park Republican who is seeking a second term.

Sittenfeld, 30, of Downtown Cincinnati, will likely have to battle through a primary first. Also mentioned as potential Democratic candidates: former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and two northeast Ohioans: U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and former Rep. Betty Sutton.

"What is necessary is a new generation of leaders," Sittenfeld said. "Most folks look at Washington and it seems broken. I think there is a new generation of leaders with new priorities who are going to step up and take on new challenges."

Sittenfeld, one of nine Cincinnati City Council members, would be jumping into the big leagues. With only 100 Senate seats and the balance of power at stake, the race is already drawing national attention in the same way Alison Lundergan Grimes' failed bid against Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell last year did.

Portman, 59, has already started preparing for a tough race — anticipating both a primary challenge and a general election. Portman's campaign announced in early January that he was starting the race with $5.8 million in the bank and the support of about 250 Republicans in the state.

That announcement was clearly aimed at scaring off potential foes, but conservatives and liberals are still gunning for him. Some tea party activists and social conservatives are incensed over Portman's announcement in 2013 that he supports gay marriage, a reversal that came after Portman learned that his son, Will, is gay. And Democrats see Portman as vulnerable in the general election—pointing to Ohio's swing-state status and Barack Obama's two presidential victories here.

"As with every election, Ohio is very important," said Justin Barasky, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the campaign arm for Senate Democrats. "Democrats will never match Portman's special-interest bank account, but we will have a great candidate who will have the resources we need to run a strong campaign that finally sends Portman back to Ohio."

The race is also already on the radar of national Republicans. Control of the Senate will be up for grabs in 2016, as it was in last year's election, and the Ohio race could be pivotal to determining which party wins a majority.

"Obviously Ohio will be competitive because it's a presidential (battleground) state," said Andrea Bozek, a spokeswoman for the Senate GOP's campaign committee. But she said Democrats will have an uphill fight against Portman.

"We're going to do whatever it takes to make sure Sen. Portman returns to Congress in 2016," she said. "Any Democratic candidate is going to struggle."

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper said 2016 is a big opportunity for Portman's Democratic challenger.

"The presidential year is the best year where a Democrat can win a Senate race in Ohio," said Pepper, himself a former Cincinnati City Councilman. "Democrats know that and Republicans know that. Politics is about a lot of things. Sometimes about timing."

Republicans say this announcement shows Sittenfeld's ambition for higher office is about selfish pride.

"Everyday Rob Portman wakes up and thinks about how he can help Ohio, PG thinks about how PG can advance his own career," said Chris Schrimpf, director of communication with the Ohio GOP.

"After accomplishing nothing as a city councilman he was already plotting his run for Senate, at the same time that he was plotting his run for Governor, at the same time that he was plotting his Presidential run," Schrimpf said. "In an Ohio political dictionary under hubris there would be a picture of FitzGerald followed by one of P.G."

Like many other Republicans, Schrimpf warns Sittenfeld would be like any other Democrat.

"It's doubtful that P.G. has any plan besides being a rubber-stamp for the tax-raising, budget busting policies of his political hero Barack Obama, who just this week proposed $320 billion in new taxes on Americans," Schrimpf said.

President Barack Obama won the Buckeye State in 2008 and 2012. Also in 2012, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown snagged a second term, defeating his well-funded Republican opponent, State Treasurer Josh Mandel, by a comfortable 6 percentage points.

Portman won election to the Senate in 2010, but his standing among some conservatives has slipped since then, mainly because of the gay marriage issue.

Sittenfeld's early candidacy announcement comes on the heels of a Republican sweep at the statewide level.

Sittenfeld sat down with The Enquirer Wednesday at BLOChead Pizza in Lower Price Hill.

Sittenfeld comes to the race as a two-time council winner; in the 2013 citywide election he came in first among all candidates.

On council, he's known as a consensus builder. Even in issues near and dear to his heart he's not one to hog credit.

His biggest initiative involved turning five Cincinnati Public schools into community hubs; that program has garnered national attention and New York City is emulating it.

Over the last year he traveled statewide to support Democrat candidates and spoken out against state cuts to local governments.

Sittenfeld said he will run on a platform of being a champion for the middle class, making education accessible and helping seniors feel secure so they don't have to choose between food and medicine.

Sittenfeld has already started accepting donations.

Sittenfeld knows people might raise an eyebrow at his age. But he said Cincinnati's success – jobs and construction – shows he can get things done.

"In two terms I have a record," Sittenfeld said. "I have the right kind of experience, which is getting things done, and that's what matters in people's lives."

Hamilton County Democratic Party Chairman Tim Burke called Sittenfeld "an exciting candidate."

"Somebody will go up against Rob Portman," Burke said. "I'd rather have somebody very serious, very bright, and right on the issues; somebody that can be an exciting new face. I think P.G. is all of that."

About Sittenfeld

Age: 30

Neighborhood: Over-the-Rhine

Education: Seven Hills School, Princeton University, Oxford University

Family: Single

Job: Works part time at the Cincinnati Public Schools' Community Learning Institute;

Political career: Elected to Cincinnati City Council in 2011; re-elected in 2013