COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)–Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland is one step closer to returning to public office.
Strickland won the Democratic U.S. Senate primary, defeating former Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld. He now faces incumbent Senator Rob Portman in the general election.
“Senator Portman is on the wrong side of the issues,” said Strickland, before a crowd of supporters. “I’m on the right side of the issues. He’s for the millionaire and billionaire class, and I’m for the working people.”
The former governor said he expects his campaign to be intense, but not hostile.
Strickland also acknowledged that the presidential election will likely play a role in his race.
“If Hillary [Clinton] is our nominee, and I think she will be, I think we’ll work very closely together,” he said. “I think she’ll be helpful to me, and I hope I can be helpful to her.
Strickland served one term has governor, before being unseated by Governor John Kasich. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives.