Hanna was a successful Ohio businessman who was instrumental in the election of William McKinley as President. As chairman of the Republican Party, he used his business connections to obtain large donations from individuals and corporations for the election, and his organizational abilities to create a professional campaign organization, the like of which had not been seen up to that time. After McKinley's election, Hanna wielded enormous influence, initially as McKinley's closest advisor and later as U.S. Senator. While Hanna was initially elected to the Senate on the basis of his position within the Republican Party, he became a respected member of that body. He became heavily involved in labor issues, and was a strong advocate of labor unions.