It doesn’t say much good about the state of the U.S. Senate Republican primary that state Rep. Bill Johnson decided to not run largely because of financial considerations.

Johnson, R-Marietta, is one of the strongest fundraisers among Ohio members of the U.S. House — made even more impressive that his base is in Appalachia — and the Senate race was too rich for his blood.

“Many of (the Republican candidates) have significant money in the bank or can self-fund,” he said, adding raising money “can be exceptionally slow in a contested primary.”

It looks like only the very wealthy — or those with rich benefactors — can run for the Republican nomination in this open primary.

Johnson, whose district includes Columbiana County and southern Mahoning County, said the crowded primary could get messy.

Already, Josh Mandel, a former state treasurer, is on the attack against Jane Timken, the former Ohio Republican Party chairwoman, and others are taking veiled shots at each other.

“Contested, conflicted primaries can leave everybody severely wounded, including the person that comes out of it,” he said. “I would prefer to not have it that way. I’d much rather use our resources on the general election.”

He added, “If you want to be one of the leaders at the table charting the future of our nation, put your name out there and go for it. But there’s consequences to that. A contested primary can be difficult.”

I asked Johnson if he had advice for those running for the Republican nomination. He suggested the candidates dial back the rhetoric.

“Make it about the issues, not each other,” he said. “The issues are what’s important.”

Those issues include, Johnson said, “Lower taxes, national security, strong border security, strong economic progress, strong energy security. Let’s make it about the things that the people of Ohio think are important and it will all work out well.”

U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, is not seeking re-election next year to a third six-year term. Open senate seats don’t come around too often.

The last time Ohio had one was in 2010 when Republican George V. Voinovich chose not to run for another term. Portman beat then-Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, a Democrat, in the general election in one of the best years nationally for Republicans in a long time.

In addition to Mandel and Timken, other declared Republicans for the Senate seat include businessmen Bernie Moreno and Mike Gibbons, who both have plenty of money.

Those likely to join them are J.D. Vance, author of the book “Hillbilly Elegy” and a venture capitalist, and state Sen. Matt Dolan, co-owner of the Cleveland Indians. They, too, have plenty of money.

Except for Mandel and Dolan, none of them have elected government experience. Among all the candidates and potential ones, only Mandel and Gibbons have run for the U.S. Senate and neither was successful.

Because of Donald Trump, having elected experience has become a negative for some Republican candidates with those who are virtually political neophytes highlighting that as an asset as they’re not part of the “swamp.”

When Johnson first ran for Congress in 2010, it was the first time he sought public office.

Johnson ran in a district that was initially drawn for Democrat Ted Strickland. In the 2012 redistricting, the lines were adjusted to help Johnson and make the district more competitive. But few would have imagined in such a short time the 6th District would be one of the reddest in the nation.

Appalachia has become much more Republican in the past decade, particularly since Trump’s successful run in 2016.

In comparison to the Republican candidates in the Senate race, Johnson had a power base from which to run.

If Johnson’s concerns about a conflicted Republican primary leaving “everybody severely wounded” are realized, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, currently the lone Democratic candidate for the position, and his supporters will be very happy.