Teamsters union picks Rob Portman in Senate race

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Conference of Teamsters union endorsed Republican Sen. Rob Portman over former Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat who had won its support in previous elections.

The union, which represents more than 50,000 members across Ohio and nearly always supports Democrats, had endorsed Strickland in 2006 and 2010. But in the tight 2016 Senate race, they chose his competitor, Portman, of Terrace Park.

"Rob is fighting for middle-class jobs and higher wages for the people of Ohio, and he has fought with us to protect our pensions," said Pat Darrow, president of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters, in a statement. Portman authored legislation to protect the pensions of retired workers without some negotiation.

The endorsement comes after Portman won the support of the United Mine Workers of America in June.

Strickland's campaign pointed out that the Democrat has earned the endorsement of labor unions like the United Auto Workers, AFL-CIO and AFSCME.

"The contrast in this election couldn’t be more clear: Ted is on the side of Ohioans who actually work for a living, while Senator Portman is pushing the agenda of his rich and powerful friends at the expense of working families," Strickland campaign spokesman David Bergstein said.