Three Democrats compete for chance to run against Jim Jordan

SANDUSKY — As U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, continues to defend President Donald Trump, three Democrats are vying to oppose him in November.Jordan is running for another two-year term to represent Ohio's Fourth District.His Democratic opponent in November will be chosen in the March 17 Ohio primary. The three candidates are Mike Larsen of Plain City, a stand-up comedian and TV program scriptwriter, and also a former Congressional staffer; Shannon Freshour of Marysville, a paralegal, and Jeff Sites of Lima, an assistant manager of shipping and receiving for a company in Findlay.Larsen is touting a new endorsement, while the other two say they are off to a fast start on fundraising.The sprawling Fourth District stretches across much of Ohio and includes southern Erie County and much of Huron and Sandusky counties, including Milan, Norwalk and Fremont.Larsen just announced an endorsement from Mary Ellen Withrow, U.S. treasurer under President Bill Clinton. She lives in Marion and is also a former state treasurer.Freshour, touting her strength as a candidate, announced on Jan. 8 she raised more than $260,000 from 12,500 donors in the fourth quarter of 2019. She also is touting her Twitter audience, which stands at more than 166,000 followers.Sites also is talking about his ability to raise money. He announced on Jan. 3 that he raised more than $155,000 in just eight weeks.The Larsen campaign told the Register its campaign got off to a slow start in raising money but is gaining ground."Mike raised about $66,000 in the last quarter of last year, though he got in pretty late. Fundraising is definitely picking up this month as more supporters learn about Mike and his message," said Katie Baker, a campaign spokeswoman for Larsen.The Larsen campaign went negative early, attacking Freshour's credentials as a Democrat.On her campaign website, emphasizing her nonpartisan approach, Freshour writes, "I am probably the only person in history to intern and work for Senator Ted Kennedy, current Presidential Advisor Kellyanne Conway, and the Blue Dog Coalition."Baker sent out a press release attacking Freshour, referring to her as a "Democrat" in scare quotes and writing, "Kellyanne Conway is the face of the Trump administration. Every day, she enables and perpetuates the president's lies, hate, and reckless foreign policy decisions."Freshour dismissed the criticism in a statement."In a time when, Republicans like Jim Jordan are declaring war on the Constitution and our district, Democrats should be universally focused on fighting them, not each other," she said. "I am a proud and lifelong Democrat and will always fight for a woman's right to choose, equality for everyone, better wages for our working families, access to universal pre-k schooling, and universal health care."If the worst that said about me is that a quarter century ago I interned for a then unknown Republican pollster one semester in college, so be it. It pales in comparison to the real economic and social struggles our fellow Ohioans face daily."My campaign will always be about defeating Jim Jordan and protecting those in our state who need a champion -- not tearing down my fellow Dems."Congressional candidate Mike Larsen, left, with former U.S. Treasurer Mary Ellen Withrow. Jeff Sites, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House. Shannon Freshour, a Democrat seeking the nomination to run for the Fourth District U.S. House seat.