McConnell spoke to ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author about Senate bid: report

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (R-Ky.) has reportedly talked with J.D. Vance, the author of the bestseller “Hillbilly Elegy,” about possibly running for Senate in Ohio.

Politico reported on Monday that the Senate majority leader has said he will make the Ohio race a priority should Vance launch a bid. 

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The news comes after Ohio state Treasurer Josh Mandel (R) announced last week that he would end his bid for the seat currently filled by Sen. Sherrod BrownSherrod Campbell BrownHillicon Valley: Senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests | Amazon pauses police use of its facial recognition tech | FBI warns hackers are targeting mobile banking apps Democratic senators raise concerns over government surveillance of protests Some realistic solutions for income inequality MORE (D-Ohio). Mandel will continue to serve out his term as treasurer but ended the Senate campaign to focus on his wife’s health.

Mandel’s exit from the race has left Republican businessman Mike Gibbons as the top contender for the GOP slot.

Some have used Vance’s book about his life growing up in the Rust Belt as a means to understand the rise of President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE and the plights of the white working class.

Vance previously ruled out a Senate bid, telling The Atlantic that a run for office would be “an objectively bad call for my family.”