Ted Strickland received official endorsements from ODP State Executive Committee, former President Bill Clinton, Senator Sherrod Brown, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley and Columbus City Council President — and Columbus mayoral candidate — Andrew J. Ginther. Strickland also earned the support of three of the four Democrats in Ohio’s U.S. House delegation: Representatives Joyce Beatty of Jefferson Township, Tim Ryan of Niles and Marcia Fudge of Cleveland.

Ted Strickland wins Ohio Democratic Party endorsement
By Staff, Northeast Ohio Media Group | April 11, 2015

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland now has the official backing of the Ohio Democratic Party in his bid to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman in 2016.

The party’s 150-member executive committee decided Saturday to give Strickland the nod. The former governor is trying to head off a primary challenge from a fellow Democrat, Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld.

Strickland raised $671,073 in the first quarter of his U.S. Senate candidacy, less than the $750,000 that Sittenfeld raised.

But Strickland only announced his candidacy in late February and had only 35 days for fundraising, according to campaign spokesman Dennis Willard. Sittenfeld was raising money since January.

Strickland already has the support of most establishment Ohio Democrats, including the Ohio Democrats in Congress, and of former President Bill Clinton.

Sittenfeld’s campaign had raised questions about an early party endorsement, noting that the party similarly gave early support to Ed FitzGerald, the Democrats’ failed candidate for governor last year.

Strickland’s campaign issued a brief statement Saturday thanking the party for its support.

“We are fortunate to have such a strong Democratic Party here in Ohio, and today’s endorsement builds upon our momentum as we work together to create opportunities for all hard working Ohioans,” Strickland said.