Matt Dolan
Matthew John Dolan is an American politician and lawyer who most recently served in the Ohio Senate from 2017 to 2024, representing the state's 24th district. Prior, he served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010.
Dolan's father Larry J. bought the Cleveland Guardians in 2000 and gave Matt a partial stake in the Major League Baseball team. Prior to his election victory in 2016, Dolan was part of the team's front office, overseeing the budget and also running the team's charity program.
On September 20, 2021, he announced his candidacy in the 2022 [United States Senate election in Ohio]. He ran as a traditional Republican and was the only candidate that did not put his full support behind Donald Trump during the campaign. He lost the Republican primary, coming in third place, receiving 23% of the vote. On January 17, 2023, he announced his candidacy in the 2024 [United States Senate election in Ohio]. He lost the Republican primary again, coming in second place with 32% of the vote.
Early life and career
Dolan was born and raised in Chardon, Ohio, and is a graduate of Gilmour Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Boston College and a Juris Doctor from the Case [Western Reserve University School of Law]. Forbes ranked the extended Dolan family as the 54th richest in the United States in 2015, with most of its wealth attributed to his uncle Charles' investments in cable television.An attorney, Dolan is a former chief assistant prosecutor for Geauga County and assistant attorney general for the State of Ohio. He is a partner at the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan. Matt's cousin James Dolan is the owner of New York Knicks of the NBA.
Politics
Ohio House of Representatives
In 2004, Dolan was elected to represent the 98th District in the Ohio House of Representatives, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He resigned in January 2010 to focus on a run for Cuyahoga County Executive. On November 2, 2010, he lost to Lakewood mayor Ed FitzGerald.Ohio Senate
After taking a break from politics to work in the Indians' front office, in 2016, Dolan opted to make a comeback by running to succeed state Senator Tom Patton, who was term-limited that year after serving in the Senate for over eight years. A competitive seat on paper, the 24th District had been held by Republicans for over thirty years, which created a competitive primary. For the Republican nomination, Dolan faced sitting state representatives Nan Baker and Mike Dovilla. However, his name recognition and large personal wealth put him over the edge, and he won the nomination with 44% of the vote, to Baker's 29% and Dovilla's 27%.While the general election was at first deemed competitive, it did not prove to be in the end. Facing Emily Hagan, an assistant county prosecutor and the niece of former Cuyahoga County commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan, Dolan won with over 58% of the vote. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2017. In 2020, Dolan was reelected with 54% of the vote, beating Democrat Tom Jackson.
Term-limited and having lost his 2024 U.S. Senate primary bid, Dolan's second term in the Ohio Senate ended on December 31, 2024.