Matt Dolan
Dolan in 2020
Member of theOhio Senate from the24th district
In office January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2024
Preceded by	Tom Patton
Succeeded by	Tom Patton
Member of theOhio House of Representatives from the 98th district
In office January 1, 2005 – January 19, 2010
Preceded by	Tim Grendell
Succeeded by	Richard Hollington
Personal details
Born	Matthew John Dolan (1965-01-12)January 12, 1965 (age 60) Chardon, Ohio, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Parent	Larry J. Dolan (father)
Relatives	Charles Dolan (uncle) Paul J. Dolan (brother) James L. Dolan (cousin)
Education	Boston College (BA) Case Western Reserve University (JD)

Matthew John Dolan^[1] (born January 12, 1965) is an American politician and lawyer who most recently served in theOhio Senate from 2017 to 2024, representing the state's 24th district. Prior, he served in theOhio House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010.

Dolan's fatherLarry J. bought theCleveland Guardians in 2000 and gave Matt a partial stake in theMajor League Baseball team.^[2] 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.^[3]

On September 20, 2021, he announced his candidacy in the2022 United States Senate election in Ohio.^[4] He ran as a traditional Republican and was the only candidate that did not put his full support behindDonald 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 the2024 United States Senate election in Ohio.^[5] He lost the Republican primary again, coming in second place with 32% of the vote.

Dolan was born and raised inChardon, Ohio, and is a graduate ofGilmour Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history fromBoston College and aJuris Doctor from theCase Western Reserve University School of Law.^[6] Forbes ranked the extended Dolan family as the 54th richest in the United States in 2015, with most of its wealth attributed to his uncleCharles' investments in cable television.^[7]

An attorney, Dolan is a former chief assistant prosecutor forGeauga County and assistant attorney general for the State of Ohio. He is a partner at the law firm of Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan.^[8] Matt's cousinJames Dolan is the owner ofNew York Knicks of theNBA.

In 2004, Dolan was elected to represent the 98th District in theOhio House of Representatives, and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. He resigned in January 2010 to focus on a run forCuyahoga CountyExecutive.^[9] On November 2, 2010, he lost toLakewood mayorEd FitzGerald.

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 SenatorTom Patton, who was term-limited that year after serving in the Senate for over eight years.^[10] A competitive seat on paper, the 24th District had been held by Republicans for over thirty years, which created a competitive primary.^[11] For the Republican nomination, Dolan faced sitting state representativesNan Baker andMike 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%.^[12]

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 candidateTim Hagan, Dolan won with over 58% of the vote.^[13] 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.

On September 20, 2021, Dolan declared his bid in the2022 United States Senate election in Ohio.^[4] He ran as a traditional Republican whom Ohio Republicans have tended to elect in statewide elections includingRob Portman,George Voinovich, andMike DeWine. Dolan was the only candidate who did not put his full support behindDonald Trump during the campaign, but he was sure to explain that he voted for Trump in2016 and2020. On March 21, 2022, during a debate between the Republican candidates running for Senate in 2022, Dolan was the only candidate to raise his hand when they were asked if Trump should "stop talking about the 2020 election".^[14] Despite Dolan's poll numbers surging during the last days of the primary campaign,^[15] Dolan ultimately lost the primary. He came in third (behind venture capitalistJD Vance and former state treasurerJosh Mandel) with 23.3% of the vote, carrying only three counties:Cuyahoga (his home county),Geauga, andFranklin.^[16]

On January 17, 2023, Dolan announced his bid for the2024 United States Senate election in Ohio, challenging incumbentSherrod Brown.^[17] Dolan has said that his reasoning for announcing his campaign early is to get more name recognition. Dolan was defeated in the primary with about 33% of the popular vote.^[18]

Dolan is opposed to abortion. However, he supports exceptions for rape, incest and health of the mother. During his time in the legislature, he opposed a bill that banned abortion in Ohio after six weeks because of the absence of exceptions.^[19]

• Official campaign site

• 1965 births
• 21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly
• Businesspeople from Cleveland
• Candidates in the 2022 United States Senate elections
• Candidates in the 2024 United States Senate elections
• Case Western Reserve University alumni
• Dolan family
• Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences alumni
• Lawyers from Cleveland
• Living people
• People from Chagrin Falls, Ohio
• People from Geauga County, Ohio
• Politicians from Cleveland
• Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives
• Republican Party Ohio state senators

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from December 2024