Ohio Senate debate with Ryan, Vance descends into attacks

By JULIE CARR SMYTH
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The first debate between Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and Republican JD Vance descended quickly into attacks. The candidates for Ohio’s open U.S. Senate seat accused each other Monday of being responsible for job losses and putting party loyalty ahead of voters’ needs. Vance said Ryan had supported policies as a congressman that led to a 10-year-old girl in Ohio being raped. Ryan said Vance had started a “fake nonprofit” to help people overcome addiction issues. The race between Ryan, a 10-term congressman, and Vance, a venture capitalist and author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” is one of the hardest fought and most closely watched of the midterms.