Journalist at large Geraldo Rivera will not seek public office for an Ohio Senate seat after “pondering” the idea for about a day, he said Thursday.
“After a 36-hour pondering whirlwind I’ve decided not to seek public office,” Rivera said on Twitter, adding that he and his wife Erica Rivera “deeply appreciate” those who supported the idea.
#Ohio is going to have a #Senate seat opening up with the retirement of Rob Portman in 2022. @GeraldoRivera knows someone who may be a good option for the #BuckeyeState and the #Republican Party.https://t.co/WCFu7l9ODo
— Newsradio WTAM 1100 (@wtam1100) March 11, 2021
Rivera said Wednesday that he was thinking of running for retiring Republican Sen. Rob Portman’s seat.
Pondering running for retiring @senrobportman seat in United States Senate. #GoBuckeyes
— Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) March 10, 2021
Rivera has done enough thinking and quashed the idea, he said Thursday.
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His wife later spoke about her husband’s decision on the matter, saying, “We sincerely apologize that Geraldo is not running, or in the case that it makes one happy, congrats!”
Rivera has been a reporter and correspondent for television and radio news shows since the 1970s, including 20/20 on ABC News and his work with Fox News. He also hosts a radio show on WTAM 1100, Geraldo in Cleveland.
Several Republicans have voiced interest in running for Portman’s position, including former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, former Ohio Republican Party leader Jane Timken, Army veteran Michael Leipold, and information technology staffing firm founder Mark Pukita.
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Some Democrats, such as former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, have hinted of a potential challenge to the historically Republican seat.
