Jane Timken

Jane Eileen Timken (née Murphy; born November 5, 1966) is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the Ohio Senate for the 29th district. She previously 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. She is the female committee member representing Ohio to the Republican National Committee since April 29, 2024, succeeding Jo Ann Davidson.

Early life and education 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. Timken graduated from Walnut Hills High School.

Timken graduated from Harvard College with a degree in psychology and played rugby while she was there.

Career

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.

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

2022 Senate election 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.

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".

Personal life Timken lives in Stark County, Ohio, with her husband Ward J. "Tim" Timken Jr. on their large family estate, the former chairman, CEO, and president of TimkenSteel. Husband Ward Timken's uncle, William R. Timken, is a former United States ambassador to Germany.