Tim Ryan (Ohio politician)
Timothy John Ryan (born July 16, 1973) is an American politician who served as a U.S. representative for Ohio from 2003 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented Ohio's 13th congressional district from 2013 to 2023, having previously represented Ohio's 17th congressional district from 2003 to 2013. Ryan's district included a large swath of northeastern Ohio, from Youngstown to Akron. He was the Democratic nominee in the 2022 United States Senate election in Ohio.
Tim Ryan
17th district (2003–2013)
13th district (2013–2023)
Anthony Latell
1 and 2 stepchildren
Born in Niles, Ohio, Ryan worked as an aide to U.S. Representative Jim Traficant after studying political science at Bowling Green State University, and earned a Juris Doctor from the University of New Hampshire School of Law. He served in the Ohio Senate from 2001 to 2002 before winning the election to succeed Traficant.
In November 2016, Ryan launched an unsuccessful challenge to unseat Nancy Pelosi as party leader of the House Democrats. He was also a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination before ending his campaign in 2019 to run for reelection to the House.[1] Ryan was reelected to his tenth term in 2020.[2] In 2021, Ryan announced his candidacy for Ohio's Senate seat and won the Democratic nomination with 70% of the vote. He lost to Republican nominee J. D. Vance in the November 8, 2022, general election.[3]
Early life and career[edit]
Ryan was born in Niles, Ohio, the son of Rochelle Maria (Rizzi) and Allen Leroy Ryan;[4] he is of Irish and Italian ancestry. Ryan's parents divorced when he was seven years old, and Ryan was raised by his mother.[5] Ryan graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Warren, where he played football as a quarterback and coached junior high basketball. He was recruited to play football at Youngstown State University, but a knee injury ended his playing career and he transferred to Bowling Green State University.[5]
Ryan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Bowling Green in 1995 and was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. After college, he joined the staff of Ohio Congressman Jim Traficant.[5] In 2000, Ryan earned a Juris Doctor degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, New Hampshire.[6] From 2000 to 2002 he served half a term in the Ohio State Senate.[5]
Tim Ryan for America
Tim Ryan
Representative from Ohio's 17th congressional district (2002–2013) and Ohio's 13th congressional district (2013–2023)
April 4, 2019
October 24, 2019
US$1,341,246.39[27] (12/31/2019)
Our Future Is Now
Political views[edit]
Ryan is an advocate of economic protectionism, unionization, and steps to reduce income inequality.[47][48][49] A critic of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), he has criticized George W. Bush's and Barack Obama's trade policies.[47][48][50]
Ryan has supported tougher measures against China and its ruling party. He has accused the nation of currency manipulation and outsourcing American manufacturing jobs.[47][51]
Personal life[edit]
In 2013, Ryan married Andrea Zetts, his second wife;[53] they have lived in Howland Township near Warren, Ohio, since that year,[53][54] with Zetts's two children from a previous relationship[54] and the couple's son together.[55]
Ryan is a Roman Catholic.[56][57] Ryan described himself as a pro-life Catholic when first running for Congress in 2002, but by 2015 he shifted his stance towards pro-choice, arguing that "no federal or state law banning abortion can honestly and fairly take into account the various circumstances that make each decision unique".[58] Ryan spent 12 years in Catholic schools such as the John F. Kennedy Catholic School and named Catholic social teaching as a major influence on his life and political thought. He also emphasized the religiosity of his family, crediting his "devout grandfather, other churchgoing relatives, social-justice-minded religious sisters" as his inspiration. Ryan also expressed his deep respect for Pope Francis, writing: "I'm on the Pope Francis Twitter feed and I make sure I'm always staying connected to what he's saying on public issues".[57] Ryan styled himself as a "Roosevelt-style Catholic Democrat" while campaigning, emphasising both his working-class background and Irish-Italian Catholic roots, and is seen by political pundits as a "more traditional Catholic willing to swim in traditional political waters".[57]