Trump-endorsed Vance projected winner in Ohio

It marks a huge win for Trump, who backed the GOP Senate candidate.

Last Updated: May 3, 2022, 11:28 PM EDT

The first multistate contest of the 2022 midterm season kicked off Tuesday with primary races in Ohio and Indiana.

Ohio's Senate race marked the first major sign of former President Donald Trump's endorsement power at the polls.

Latest Developments:

Here's how the races are developing today. All times Eastern. Check back for updates.
May 03, 2022, 8:20 PM EDT

ABC News projects Frank LaRose winner of GOP secretary of state race

In the Ohio Republican primary for secretary of state, incumbent elections chief Frank LaRose is projected to win.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose speaks to the Fairfield County Lincoln Republican Club in Pickerington, Ohio, March 24, 2022.
Paul Vernon/AP, FILE

Although LaRose once told the Cleveland Plain Dealer it is "irresponsible when Republicans say an election was stolen and don't have evidence" in the fallout from the 2020 election, the Republican incumbent still received Trump's endorsement for his reelection campaign.

"I think President Trump is incredibly influential here in Ohio. He won by an overwhelming margin, in a secure election -- he got over 8%, that's a record-setting 3 million votes in the state of Ohio," LaRose said in an interview on ABC News Live on Monday touting the endorsement.

As Trump increasingly wades into state-level political contests, the shift in rhetoric by LaRose demonstrates an attempt to bridge the divide between sentiments of election denial expressed by many of Trump's supporters with the wishes of broad swaths of Republicans who want to see the party move on from focusing on 2020.

-ABC News' Alisa Wiersema

May 03, 2022, 8:12 PM EDT

ABC News projects Mike DeWine winner of GOP gubernatorial primary

Incumbent Gov. Mike DeWine is projected to win the Republican gubernatorial primary in Ohio, holding off challenges from within his own party.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, left, and Ohio first lady Fran DeWine meet with reporters outside of their polling place after voting in Cedarville, Ohio, May 3, 2022.
Paul Vernon/AP

DeWine, who is seeking a second term, was favored to win but faced a spirited faceoff with Republicans who were disappointed with his relatively strict response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those looking to replace DeWine included former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, former state Rep. Ron Hood and Joe Blystone, a farmer who jumped into the race. Trump did not endorse a candidate in this primary contest, but Renacci campaigned on Trumpism and cited Trump's support of him in 2018 during his failed campaign for Senate.

May 03, 2022, 8:03 PM EDT

ABC News projects Rep. Tim Ryan winner of Ohio Senate primary

In the Ohio Democratic primary for Senate, ABC News projects Rep. Tim Ryan as the winner.

Representative Tim Ryan gives remarks in Washington, March 30, 2022.
Sipa USA via AP, FILE

Ryan entered Congress in 2003 and briefly ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

He has spent his campaign focusing relentlessly on an economic message and avoiding what he calls "Republicans' culture wars."

Ryan has long represented the working class Youngstown area and was the clear frontrunner in the hotly contested Republican primary battle for retiring Sen. Rob. Portman’s seat. The other candidates were Traci Johnson and Morgan Harper.

Shortly after his projected win, Rep. Ryan tweeted, "On to November! Never bet against Ohio."

Though Ryan is projected to win the nomination handily, he faces a tougher feat in the general election. Former President Trump won Ohio in both 2016 and 2020.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

May 03, 2022, 7:53 PM EDT

Trump makes final primary push for Vance

Former President Donald Trump participated in a radio interview with Ohio 98.9 on Tuesday to boost his favored Senate candidate J.D. Vance in the state during the final hours of the race.

While on the show, Trump was asked about the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade and denounced the leak as "demeaning" but did not comment on the draft itself. Notably, Trump vowed to appoint justices who would overturn the nearly 50-year precedent.

Trump went on to get out the vote for Vance but acknowledged, as he always does, that his preferred candidate wasn't always on his side.

J.D. Vance, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio, shakes hands with former President Donald Trump during a rally hosted by the former president at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on April 23, 2022, in Delaware, Ohio.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images, FILE

"Well, I've liked him. He was rough on me but so was everybody else, they all were, really. But he was pretty, I would say normal rough, relatively speaking," Trump said. "And I just thought he was very exceptional. He came back a long way as you know, he retracted everything. Overall, I just think he's gonna be very good."

"They're all good," Trump added. "But J.D. is going to win."