Entrepreneur Bernie Moreno won Tuesday’s Ohio Republican Senate primary and is set to face incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November despite being embroiled in late-game scandal. advanced.
Mr. Moreno, 57, president of Collection Auto Group, has the support of Sen. J.D. He described himself as a populist believer in “Make It Great.” movement.
That support gives Moreno a lead over state Sen. Matt Dolan (who was backed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and former Republican Sen. Rob Portman) and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. played an important role.
Moreno received 49.4% of the vote, while Dolan received 32.9%, with 64% of precincts responding.
In his victory speech, Moreno said, “I want to thank President Trump for everything he has done for me in this campaign,” and described the former president’s support as “unwavering.” Trump was expected to win. He noted that he spoke with Trump immediately afterward. Senate primary election.
“I wear my endorsement from President Trump with honor,” he added, wondering if Brown “is going to wear his 99% voting record with Joe Biden with honor.” I thought.
Ohio is widely seen as having the most Republican support in the Senate this term, due to the state’s rightward swing. Voters in the Buckeye State have supported Republican candidates in four of the six presidential elections since 2000, and in 2020, Trump won by eight points over President Biden.
To counter this threat, at least one pro-Democratic group intervened in the race and supported Mr. Moreno.
Mandatory and national PACs Spent $2.7 million on TV commercials highlighting Morenois working closely with President Trump, according to AdImpact, which tracks spending on advertising spots. Duty and Country is funded by Senate Majority PAC, the main committee supporting Senate Democrats.
“[Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer was just arrested for interfering with our primary because he wanted the weakest opponent for Sherrod Brown. Dolan diverges with X Thursday after reports about the ad circulated.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who heads the Senate Democratic Party’s campaign division, said: publicly explained He said he views Moreno as a “weak candidate.”
“He’s got people campaigning from out of state, and Sherrod Brown has always had people campaigning from Ohio,” Peters told Axios last week. .
somewhat sparse polling Moreno has gone toe-to-toe with Dolan, with the former the severity of the race to “a bunch of misleading, offensive, and awful advertising.”
A few days before voters went to the polls, Moreno’s campaign was shaken by the following developments. Associated Press reporting It revealed that an Adult Friend Finder profile advertising the pursuit of “men seeking one-on-one sex” was created in 2008 with his emails.
“Hello, I’m looking for a young man to have some fun with while traveling,” one post read.
The Associated Press could not confirm that Moreno created his profile and his campaign. It was because of an intern’s prank.this revelation seemingly contradicted the pro-family image Moreno sought to cultivate.
“This is a terrible last-minute attack by desperate people,” he bellowed. “This is what they’re doing. Look at what they did with Judge Kavanaugh, look at what they did with President Trump.”
The primary was another test of Trump’s support and Vance’s influence in the Buckeye State.
President Trump stumbled on Moreno’s support Saturday in Vandalia, Ohio, where he confronted Dolan as a “weak RINO” who is “trying to be the next Mitt Romney.”
Mr. Vance endorsed Mr. Moreno last May, hoping to avoid a repeat of the muddy 2022 Republican primary inspired by Mr. Trump.
Both Moreno and Dolan competed in the 2022 primary. Moreno ultimately withdrew and helped boost Vance, but Dolan finished third behind Vance and former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel.
Dolan cautiously answered Trump’s questions during the campaign and distanced himself from the 45th president during the 2022 campaign.
“I was able to implement Trump policies here in Ohio. Less taxes, less regulation, less school choice.” Dolan told Scripps News before the primary.
The state senator had pitched Brown to voters as the best candidate to run in November. He relies on deep vaults to cover the airwaves and was the biggest spender in the primary.
Dolan is estimated to own assets ranging from $14.5 million up to $41 million. According to an analysis by Cleveland.com.
Mr. Brown, 71, is a three-term senator who has sought to brand himself as a populist champion of the working class and one of the Senate’s most progressive Democrats. According to GovTrack.
Republicans only need to flip two seats to take back the Senate in November. Democrats are defending 23 seats, while Republicans only need to defend 11 in the 2024 cycle.
