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"Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance considers U.S. Senate run in Ohio J.D. Vance has never sought or held elective office, but has seriously attracted the interest of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other national Republicans as a potential opponent for Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. The Columbus Dispatch Wednesday Jan 10, 2018 at 11:19 AM Jan 10, 2018 at 11:39 AM His book was seen as a profile of frustrated white voters who turned to President Trump By Randy Ludlow, GateHouse Media Ohio COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus resident and "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance is more than flirting with a run for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate following the exit of Treasurer Josh Mandel from the race. “J.D. is seriously considering a run at this point,” said Jai Chabria, a former top adviser to Gov. John Kasich, who now is working with Vance, who has never sought or held elective office. The 33-year-old has attracted the interest of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other national Republicans as a potential opponent for Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. “There’s been an unbelievable amount of support both from Ohio Republican leaders and people with an interest in the Ohio Senate race from a national perspective,” Chabria said Wednesday morning. Vance and McConnell have spoken more than once as party leaders apparently continue to shop for a candidate beyond wealthy, Cleveland-area investment banker Mike Gibbons, who also is a political novice. Gibbons last week signaled a willingness to invest $5 million of his own money, or potentially more, in the race. Gibbons' campaign spanked Vance on Wednesday for his failure to vote for Trump. Vance cast his ballot for Evan McMullin, an independent supported by conservatives opposed to Trump. “Mike Gibbons was a co-chair for President Trump in Ohio and never wavered in his support for the President. J.D. Vance effectively voted for Hillary Clinton when he voted against President Trump. There’s only one candidate in the race who would support the President, Mike Gibbons,” said Mike Biundo, a Gibbons campaign consultant. U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth, says he is committed to continuing his campaign for governor, although he would seriously consider running for the Senate if asked by President Donald Trump. Vance, who has periodically continued to take verbal smacks at Trump, now works as an investment banker after the best-selling success of his memoir about growing up in a hardscabble working-class neighborhood of Middletown with family roots in Kentucky. His book was seen as a profile of frustrated white voters who turned to Trump. Vance acknowledged last month that he has political aspirations, but said, “not now.” In remarks at the Statehouse last month, Vance indicated he had no time for a potential campaign with a new child and his wife Usha’s demanding job as a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Vance is a graduate of Ohio State University and holds a law degree from Yale University. Mandel roiled the Republican picture for U.S. Senate, and a rematch of his losing 2012 race against Brown, by withdrawing from the race on Friday due to his wife’s unspecified health issues. Brown refused on Wednesday to weigh in on Vance or his book, saying instead, “I don’t think the voters of Ohio should have Mitch McConnell decide who the Republican candidate for the state of Ohio will be.” Asked if he would comment on Vance’s book, Brown said he would not. “I’m not going to weigh in on this primary,” he said. “I run on my record.” Brown said he was “agnostic” about his ultimate Republican opponent. “Mitch McConnell can pick his candidate and Donald Trump can pick his candidate for the Republican primary, but voters will actually make that decision, not Donald Trump or Mitch McConnell.”