FACTBOX-Four races to watch in Ohio's primaries for U.S. Congress, governor

The Republican-leaning states of Ohio and Indiana held nominating primaries on Tuesday where voters picked their parties' candidates for the U.S. Congress and other offices, helping to shape the field for the Nov. 8 midterm elections. With the counting of ballots underway, here are four contests to watch in Ohio: TIM RYAN'S SENATE BID U.S. Representative Tim Ryan won the Democratic nomination, Edison Research projected, for the race to succeed retiring Republican Senator Rob Portman.

The Republican-leaning states of Ohio and Indiana held nominating primaries on Tuesday where voters picked their parties' candidates for the U.S. Congress and other offices, helping to shape the field for the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

With the counting of ballots underway, here are four contests to watch in Ohio: TIM RYAN'S SENATE BID

U.S. Representative Tim Ryan won the Democratic nomination, Edison Research projected, for the race to succeed retiring Republican Senator Rob Portman. Ryan has represented the Youngstown area in Congress since 2002, carving out a reputation as a centrist on social issues and a liberal on economic issues. He will likely face an uphill fight against the Republican nominee in a state that has drifted steadily to the right over the past decade.

J.D. VANCE V. JOSH MANDEL This contest is shaping up as a high-profile test of former President Donald Trump's ability to shape the Republican field to his liking as he ponders another White House bid.

Trump upended the crowded race when he endorsed J.D. Vance, the "Hillbilly Elegy" author and venture capitalist, a newcomer to politics who had been trailing other candidates. Ohio Republicans have argued that Vance's past criticism of Trump could hurt the party's chances of holding the seat in November. Vance's most prominent rival is Josh Mandel, an ex-U.S. Marine and former state treasurer, who had been considered the front-runner prior to Trump's endorsement. Like Vance, Mandel has endorsed Trump's false claims of election fraud.

Other candidates include: Jane Timken, a former chair of the state Republican Party; banker Mike Gibbons, and Matt Dolan, a wealthy state senator who is the only candidate to acknowledge that Biden was elected legitimately. GOVERNOR MIKE DEWINE FACES CHALLENGERS

Incumbent Republican Governor Mike DeWine faces two challengers: former Rep. Jim Renacci, who fell short in a U.S. Senate bid in 2018, and farmer Joe Blystone. If DeWine wins the primary as expected, he is favored to win re-election in the fall. DEMOCRATIC DUEL: BROWN V. TURNER

The Democratic primary in the state's Cleveland-based 11th congressional district features a rematch between incumbent Representative Shontel Brown and progressive Nina Turner, who lost in a special election last year. That race was seen as a proxy battle between the Democratic Party's progressive wing, which backed Turner, and establishment figures, which lined up behind Brown. The victor of this primary will be heavily favored to win in November.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)