Tim Ryan Calls Out J.D. Vance in Fiery Ohio Senate Debate: Trump 'Took His Dignity'

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty; Drew Angerer/Getty Tim Ryan (left), J.D. Vance

A debate between neck and neck Ohio Senate candidates Tim Ryan and J.D. Vance grew heated after Ryan accused Vance of losing his dignity to former President Donald Trump.

Vance, 38, a venture capitalist and author of the memoir-turned-movie Hillbilly Elegy, won the Republican primary in Ohio largely due to an endorsement from the former president, whom he previously criticized.

Trump has taken note of his power in the race, saying in a rally just last month: "J.D. is kissing my a--, he wants my support so much. I think he's running, J.D., on an 'I love Donald Trump' policy. Yeah, he said some bad things about me, but that's before he knew me, and then he fell in love."

RELATED: Hillbilly Elegy Author J.D. Vance Risks Losing Republicans a Senate Seat in Ohio This Year

On Monday, Vance's Democratic opponent, 49-year-old Ryan, seized on that comment, saying in the debate, "Just a few weeks ago in Youngstown, onstage, Donald Trump said to J.D. Vance: 'All you do is kiss my a-- to get my support."

Ryan continued: "I don't know anybody I grew up with, I don't know anybody I went to high school with, that would allow someone to take their dignity like that and then get back up onstage. We need leaders who have courage to take on their own party. And I've proven that. And he was called an a--kisser by the former president."

Later in the debate, Ryan returned again to Trump's comment, saying, "I'm for Ohio. I don't kiss anyone's a-- like him. Ohio needs an a--kicker not an a--kisser."

RELATED: Tim Ryan Joins Field of GOP Candidates with First Democratic Bid in Closely Watched Ohio Senate Race

Trump' influential endorsement of Vance came despite comments the writer had made about the former president during his 2016 campaign.

"I'm a Never Trump guy," Vance said in an interview with Charlie Rose in 2016, according to Politico. "I never liked him."

Vance had also called Trump "unfit for our nation's highest office," "an idiot," "noxious" and "reprehensible," saying his policies ranged from "immoral to absurd."

But once Vance launched a Republican campaign for office, he changed his tune, refashioning himself publicly in the style of the former president, who then backed Vance in a statement and appeared with him at a rally.

"Like some others J.D. Vance may have said some not-so-great things about me in the past, but he gets it now, and I have seen that in spades," Trump said in April. "He is our best chance for victory in what could be a very tough race."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.

Ryan, a former Democratic presidential candidate, has represented the Youngstown area of Ohio in Congress since 2003.

He has been a staunch critic of Trumps and blasted Republicans for their response to the 2021 Capitol riots, saying those against investigating the events of that day are either "pretending to ignore what's happening or they're living in a world of delusion."