Jane Eileen Murphy Timken (born November 5, 1966) is an American attorney who served as chair of the Ohio Republican Party from 2017 to 2021. She was a candidate in the 2022 United States Senate election in Ohio.

Jane Timken
Timken in 2017
Republican National Committeewoman from Ohio
Assumed office
April 29, 2024
Preceded byJo Ann Davidson
Chair of the Ohio Republican Party
In office
January 7, 2017 – February 5, 2021
Preceded byMatt Borges
Succeeded byBryan C. Williams (Acting)
Personal details
Born
Jane Eileen Murphy

(1966-11-05) November 5, 1966 (age 58)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Ward Timken
(m. 1994)
Children2
RelativesWilliam R. Timken (uncle-in-law)
EducationHarvard University (BA)
American University (JD)

Early life and education

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Timken was born Jane Eileen Murphy in Cincinnati, Ohio, the daughter of John and Eileen Murphy. Her father was a law professor and her mother was a Scottish-born nurse.[1] Timken graduated from Walnut Hills High School.[1][2][3]

Timken graduated from Harvard College with a degree in psychology and played rugby while she was there.[1] She received her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from American University Washington College of Law.[4][5]

Career

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Timken meets with President Donald Trump in May 2017

She was elected vice chair of the Stark County Republican Party in May 2010. In 2016, she had initially supported Governor of Ohio John Kasich's candidacy the 2016 Republican presidential primary.[1] Timken hosted a fundraiser attended by Donald Trump weeks after he secured the party's nomination in 2016.[6]

Timken was elected as the first female chairwoman of the Ohio Republican Party in January 2017.[3][7] She ousted incumbent chair Matt Borges, an ally of Kasich who refused to endorse Trump in the 2016 election.[6]

While serving as chair, Timken refused to sign a pledge stating the GOP would not use hacked information in campaigns.[8]

2022 Senate election

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Timken remained chair until resigning in February 2021 to run for U.S. Senate in the 2022 election, following the announcement that incumbent Republican Rob Portman would not seek re-election.[9]

During the race, she sought to present herself as a Donald Trump loyalist, mirrored his talking points and said she would "advance the Trump agenda".[9][1] In her announcement speech for the 2022 campaign, she attacked former Governor Kasich, whose presidential candidacy she had supported in 2016.[1]

Timken lost the primary election to J. D. Vance, ultimately coming in fifth place in a field of seven candidates. She received less than 6% of the vote in the statewide Republican primary. Timken over-performed in her home county of Stark County, where she came in fourth place with 15% of the vote.[6]

Personal life

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Timken lives in Stark County, Ohio, with her husband Ward J. "Tim" Timken Jr.,[10] the former chairman, CEO, and president of TimkenSteel.[4] She has two children.[11] Husband Ward Timken's uncle, William R. Timken, is a former United States ambassador to Germany.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Williams, Jason; Balmert, Jessie. "Former Ohio Republican Party leader Jane Timken: 'I would happily accept Trump's endorsement'". The Enquirer. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Windsor, Jack (February 6, 2021). "Timken Leaves Ohio GOP Chairmanship for Likely Run at U.S. Senate". The Ohio Star. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Wang, Robert (January 4, 2017). "How Jane Timken rose to challenge Ohio GOP leadership". Canton Repository. Archived from the original on February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Timken Lincoln Day Dinner speaker". Hillsboro Times-Gazette. February 13, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "Editorial: Jane Timken takes over Ohio GOP". Canton Repository. January 9, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Wang, Robert (May 9, 2022). "Without Trump endorsement, Jane Timken did poorly in Ohio Senate race. What's her future?". Canton Repository. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  7. ^ Pelzer, Jeremy (January 11, 2019). "Jane Timken elected Ohio Republican Party chair". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  8. ^ Rouan, Rick (February 11, 2020). "Ohio GOP chairwoman Jane Timken 'loath to' take oath against using hacked information with David Pepper". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Richardson, Seth A. (February 18, 2021). "Former Ohio GOP Chairman Jane Timken launches bid for Senate". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  10. ^ Tobias, Andrew (December 16, 2019). "Former TimkenSteel CEO Tim Timken opening lobbying and consulting firm". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Duer, Benjamin (January 15, 2021). "Stark County's Jane Timken was re-elected to a third term as Ohio Republican Party chair". Canton Repository. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Ohio Republican Party
2017–2021
Succeeded by