News

Recapturing the U.S. Senate will be the unofficial theme as Ohio Democrats gather for their party’s annual legacy dinner.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is scheduled to be Friday’s keynote speaker at the Athenaeum in downtown Columbus, with 2016 Senate candidates Ted Strickland and P.G. Sittenfeld each also getting stage time.

Strickland, the former Ohio governor and congressman, is facing Sittenfeld, a 30-year-old Cincinnati councilman, in next year’s Democratic primary. The winner would face incumbent U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican.

State Democratic Chairman David Pepper said Friday’s event has been sold out for weeks. He said Democrats view Ohio has a key battleground as the party seeks to regain the Senate majority it lost last year.