With only 22 days until Election Day, WFMJ 21 News is sharing the exclusive interviews that 5 p.m. news anchor Lindsay McCoy did recently with both candidates running for the open Ohio Senate seat.

The race features Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat from the Youngstown area who has served has a congressman for nearly 20 years, is running against the Republican candidate, J.D. Vance, a first time candidate, to fill the seat being vacated by Sen. Rob Portman.

Vance, 38, is best known as the author of the best-selling book "Hillbilly Elegy," about his life growing up in southwestern Ohio city of Middletown, near Cincinnati. Vance joined the Marines, serving in the Iraq War, after his service, attended Ohio State University and Yale Law School.

Vance became a venture capitalist and moved back to Ohio in 2017. 

Vance announced his decision to run for U.S. Senate in 2021 and won the Republican nomination in May. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed the candidate, including attending a rally for Vance in Youngstown in September.

The interviews were conducted in late August and allowed each candidate to speak at length with 21 News about issues important to all Ohioans.

WFMJ-TV will be hosting the final debate between the candidates Monday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. You can watch the live debate on WFMJ-TV 21 or on WFMJ.com tonight, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.