Tim Ryan

Is Rep. Tim Ryan a serious contender to be Hillary Clinton's vice president?

(Jackie Borchardt, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Is there another Ohioan on Hillary Clinton's short list for vice president?

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of the Youngstown area is among those under consideration, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, which cites "several" unidentified Democrats.

Ryan's name often is linked to higher office. He has been seen as a future governor or senator for years. But this VP speculation is a first for the seven-term congressman.

It's no surprise that Clinton is keeping an eye on battleground Ohio in her search for a running mate. Most buzz, though, has focused on Sen. Sherrod Brown, a progressive from Cleveland who might appeal to supporters of Clinton's Democratic rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

"Regardless of who is chosen as vice president, I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure Hillary Clinton is the next president of the United States," Ryan said Thursday in a statement his staff emailed to cleveland.com. "As recent events have shown, we are living in trying times and we need a serious leader who has the experience and temperament necessary to tackle our immensely complex global and domestic issues."

Ryan, 42, would add youth to the ticket. Clinton is 68, Brown 63. He is known for helping the Mahoning Valley turn the page from the scandalous past of Jim Traficant, the late congressman for whom Ryan once interned. Ryan, who played football in high school and college, also has played against type in his Rust Belt district by writing a book about the benefits of meditation.

He also could be an unconventional choice with the party's liberal base. Ryan until recently took a more conservative stance on abortion rights.

The Journal reported that Clinton is "actively looking at Sen. Elizabeth Warren" of Massachusetts. Also on the list, aside from Brown and Ryan, are Housing Secretary Julian Castro; Labor Secretary Tom Perez; Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Tim Kaine of Virginia; Rep. Xavier Becerra of California and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.

The vetting is in early stages, according to the newspaper. No one has been asked to submit tax returns or other records that are typically scoured later in the selection process.

A spokeswoman for Clinton's campaign declined to comment on the story Thursday.

Ryan passed up on a run for Senate this year, ceding to close ally Ted Strickland and citing a desire to remain closer to home with his wife and their three children. He has been mentioned, as he has been in past cycles, as a possible candidate for governor in 2018.