Ohio Sen. Rob Portman won a second big endorsement from union members in as many days when the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio announced their support of him over former Gov. Ted Strickland on Tuesday.
The group’s show of support for Portman comes one day after the freshman Republican won the endorsement of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, which represents over 50,000 members throughout the state.
“On behalf of our more than 25,000 members in Ohio, we are proud to endorse Rob Portman for U.S. Senate and look forward to working with him. His support for our community is unmatched, and we are grateful for all he has done,” said Jay McDonald, president of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio and vice president of the National Fraternal Order of Police.
Previously, Strickland won the group’s support in 2006 and 2010 during his gubernatorial contests. They also backed Portman during his first campaign for the Senate in 2010.
“I am extremely grateful and humbled by the support of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio,” said Rob Portman. “The men and women who serve, protect and put their lives on the line on behalf of Ohio families day in and day out deserve our utmost respect. I am a proud supporter of the FOP, and it is an honor and privilege to continue fighting for them and their families.”
Overall, this makes three big endorsements for the incumbent Republican from union groups, which generally do not offer many endorsements to Republicans. In early June, the United Mine Workers of America announced their support of Portman over Strickland, in large part due to his work for the Center for American Progress, a left-wing group that is anti-coal.
The Strickland campaign tried to push back against the news just prior to the announcement by touting their own union endorsement, coming from the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters, while listing over 40 endorsements the former governor has won from union groups.
