Democrats are heavy underdogs to flip an open Ohio Senate seat even after landing their top recruit, Rep. Tim Ryan.

The 47-year-old, 10-term congressman is from the blue-collar Mahoning Valley in northeast Ohio and presents as the sort of working-stiff Democrat who can win in this generational Midwestern battleground that former President Donald Trump converted into a Republican stronghold. It’s an image that has paid dividends for liberal Sen. Sherrod Brown, and Democrats are hopeful that in Ryan, they have someone similar to throw against whomever Republicans nominate to succeed retiring Sen. Rob Portman.