With U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan in the political fight of his life, he was able to do something he’s struggled to do his entire time in Congress: Raise a respectable amount of money when it was desperately needed.

Ryan, D-Howland, received a remarkable $584,186 between Oct. 1 and Nov. 3 in a race he won by 7.55 percent against Republican Christina Hagan of Marlboro Township for the 13th Congressional District seat.

Other members of Congress raised even more money, but it’s been Ryan’s Achilles’ heel his entire political career, which started two decades ago.

It’s stunning to see the amount he raised in little more than a month when you consider his congressional campaign picked up only $73,139 in contributions between April and September 2019. At the time, Ryan was concentrating on his quixotic presidential bid — an effort that raised very little money compared to others seeking that office.

Overall, Ryan raised $1,953,109 in this election cycle, with $1,170,332 coming between July 1 and Nov. 3.

Realizing he was facing a serious challenge from Hagan, a former state representative, and a dark money group backing her, Ryan spent $2,063,751 on this campaign. He carried money from previous campaigns accounting for his ability to spend more than he raised.

That left Ryan’s campaign fund with only $25,486 as of Nov. 23. But had he spent less and lost, the extra money would have done no good.

Hagan wasn’t able to financially compete with Ryan.

She ended up raising $871,623 and spent $819,311 on her campaign.

Hagan had the benefit of the Ohio Freedom Fund, an outside special interest group that could have ties to the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus.

The group helped in the Republican primary, spending $97,500 on ads to prop up Hagan and go after Louis G. Lyras of Campbell, who finished second in that race.

It also spent $150,000 in early September to help Hagan and criticize Ryan.

But in Hagan’s true time of need — beginning with early voting on Oct. 6 — the group disappeared as quickly as it emerged. Its final campaign finance report showed it spent a mere $12,500 on commercials on Oct. 26.

Ryan now has the task of raising money to replenish his campaign fund. It’s going to be a challenge as he likely faces an even more difficult re-election campaign in 2022 because of congressional redistricting.

The next time he runs, Ryan could find himself in the same congressional district as either U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta, whose 6th Congressional District is to his south, or U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, whose 14th District is to Ryan’s north.

Joyce and Johnson are strong fundraisers with plenty in their funds.

Johnson beat Democrat Shawna Roberts of Belmont, who ran a campaign in name only, by 48.8 percent.

Roberts didn’t file a report in all of 2020 and filed as a candidate because no other Democrat dared challenge Johnson in what has become one of the strongest Republican districts in the state.

Johnson ended up raising $1,859,870 for this campaign and spent $1,800,299. With carryover, he had $996,888 in his campaign fund as of Nov. 23.

Why did Johnson spend so much money in a race he knew he was going to easily win? To get his name out with congressional redistricting coming in 2022.

If lines are drawn to pit him against Ryan in the next election, he’s become more well-known in the Mahoning Valley over the years and already has a significant financial lead on Ryan.

Joyce also didn’t have a problem winning re-election last month, beating Democrat Hillary O’Connor Mueri of Painesville by 20.2 percent.

Joyce’s district includes the expensive Cleveland media market, and he’s done an impressive job of raising money over the years.

In this past election, he raised $2,957,939 and spent $2,482,053.

Like Johnson, Joyce didn’t need to spend the amount he did.

But he was sitting on a $732,242 surplus as of Nov. 23 and he’s been able to raise plenty.

If Joyce ends up facing Ryan in 2022, he’ll also have a huge financial advantage.