UAW endorses Strickland for U.S. Senate seat next year

YOUNGSTOWN

The United Auto Workers union today endorsed ex-Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, challenging Republican incumbent Rob Portman for a U.S. Senate seat next year.

“Ted Strickland has always stood on the side of working men and women in Ohio,” said Ken Lortz, UAW Region 2B director. “When auto workers needed him most, Ted fought right alongside us to secure the auto rescue and together, we saved 160,000 Ohio jobs. Ted has sided with workers and voted against every job-killing trade deal that has ever come before him. And he’s siding with us now in the latest fight to protect American auto jobs from being sent overseas by the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”

UAW Region 2B covers Ohio and Indiana, with 128,000 active and retired members in Ohio.

Strickland is being challenged in next year’s Democratic primary by Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld with the winner facing Portman in the November 2016 general election.

“While Ted has sided with workers, Sen. Rob Portman has sided with corporate profits,” Lortz said. “Portman opposed the auto rescue and voted for every single trade deal that has ever come before him.”

Corry Bliss, Portman's campaign manager, said the incumbent "has consistently said he would have supported the auto rescue, but would have pushed for improvements to protect the auto plants in Ohio that shut down during Gov. Strickland's tenure." Portman was quoted in 2009 calling the rescue "a lousy deal for Ohio."

“The U.S. Senate shouldn’t be a place where millionaires go to look out for billionaires,” said Strickland. “While Sen. Portman stands with Washington special interests, I am proud to stand with Ohio auto workers in this fight, and I am deeply grateful for their support.”