Josh Mandel (Credit: AP/David Kohl) Ohio state treasurer Josh Mandel upended his state’s political landscape on Friday when he told his supporters in an email that he would no longer run against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November’s election. The announcement came as an abrupt blow to the GOP as Mandel was seen as the likely nominee. Mandel had already challenged Brown in a close 2012 race and was regarded by both parties as a strong candidate this year.