U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s Senate campaign is off to a strong start in 2022 by raising $4.1 million from donors during the first three months of the year.

With a number of candidates in the Republican field relying on their own personal wealth to fund their campaigns, Ryan has raised more money from donors than anyone else seeking the Senate seat in Ohio.

“We’re proud to have momentum on Tim’s side in the race to flip Ohio’s open Senate seat,” said Izzi Levy, Ryan’s campaign spokeswoman. “Tim’s record-breaking fundraising and grassroots support from all 88 counties are a testament to his commitment to the Ohio workers he’s spent his career fighting for.”

She referred to the Republican candidates as “out-of-touch GOP millionaires raiding their own fortunes to try to buy themselves this seat.”

It continued a trend for Ryan, D-Howland, of raising more money in each quarter of this campaign than the previous one.

It is the most ever for a Senate candidate in Ohio during the first quarter of an election year, Ryan’s campaign said.

It is among the most money raised by any nonincumbent candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in the country in the first quarter of this year to date.

The $4.1 million raised by Ryan’s campaign in the first quarter came from more than 29,239 new donors and 97 percent of the contributions were $100 or less.

In addition to the $4.1 million in the first quarter, Ryan had raised $8,527,880 from donors in 2021.

That included $2,904,653 in the fourth quarter of 2021 and $2,511,219 in 2021’s third quarter.

Ryan, a 10-term U.S. House member, reported having about $6.4 million in his Senate account as of March 31.

He had $5,030,018 in his Senate fund as of Dec. 31.

Ryan’s campaign said March 28 it was spending $3.3 million on television commercials.

The primary is May 3.

Ryan is the only Senate candidate in Ohio to announce his first-quarter fundraising totals to date.

Friday at 11:59 p.m. is the deadline for Senate candidates to file fundraising reports for the first quarter with the Federal Election Commission.

No Senate candidates in Ohio had filed with the FEC as of Monday.

In 2021, four Republican candidates for the Senate seat gave $29.14 million in total to their campaigns.

Leading the way was Mike Gibbons, an investment banker, with $11.4 million, followed by state Sen. Matt Dolan with $10.49 million.

Businessman Bernie Moreno gave $3.75 million to his campaign last year and quit the race Feb. 3.

Former Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken loaned $3.5 million to her campaign last year.

The seat is open because U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, opted not to seek a third six-year term.

dskolnick@vindy.com

dskolnick@tribtoday.com