LONGWORTH: IN OHIO, THIS DEMOCRATIC UNDERDOG IS MAKING THE SENATE RACE A TIGHT ONE–DRAINING QUITE A BIT OF THE GOP’S FUNDS.

DEMOCRAT AND CURRENT U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TIM RYAN IS JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW.

AFTER A FAILED BID TO CHALLENGE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER NANCY PELOSI AND A BRIEF PRESIDENTIAL RUN…RYAN HAS A SHOT AT AN OHIO SENATE SEAT.

HE AND HIS REPUBLICAN COMPETITOR, JD VANCE, ARE VYING FOR RETIRING SENATOR ROB PORTMAN’S SEAT–WHICH HE’S HELD, AS A REPUBLICAN, FOR TWO TERMS.

OHIO SKEWED RED IN RECENT YEARS…VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP TWICE…AND LOSING ITS “SWING STATE” IDENTITY.

UNTIL NOW. BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS, A SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY/USA TODAY POLL SHOWS VANCE WITH 47% OF VOTES AND RYAN WITH 45%. A 2-POINT DIFFERENCE.

A MARIST POLL SHOWS ONLY A 1-POINT DIFFERENCE.

TO GAIN SUCH UNEXPECTED SUPPORT, RYAN HAS PROMOTED A MODERATE PLATFORM THAT’S PRO-CHOICE, PRO-GUN CONTROL, AND PRO-LAW ENFORCEMENT, AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING THE CREATION OF MORE MANUFACTURING JOBS IN THE MIDWEST.

IT SEEMS TO BE SUCCESSFULLY APPEALING TO SOME CONSERVATIVES.

TIM RYAN: “I AM RUNNING TO REPRESENT THE EXHAUSTED MAJORITY. DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, AND INDEPENDENTS–AGAINST THE EXTREMISTS.”

LONGWORTH: BECAUSE THE RACE IS THIS TIGHT, RYAN’S POPULARITY IS ULTIMATELY PUSHING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SUPPORT VANCE AND PROTECT THEIR SENATE SEAT.

THAT’S MONEY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON FLIPPING DEMOCRATIC SEATS IN OTHER RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY AS THE GOP SEEKS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE UPPER CHAMBER..

WHETHER THAT MONEY IS WORTH IT FOR REPUBLICANS…WE WON’T KNOW UNTIL ELECTION NIGHT.

TIM RYAN–JUST ONE NAME YOU NEED TO KNOW.