Republican Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno has emerged as the top Republican primary candidate in the race against Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. Moreno, a successful entrepreneur with extensive business experience in Cleveland, recently received a crucial endorsement from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who described him as an “America-first conservative” and urged Republicans to unite in support of his candidacy. This endorsement adds to Moreno’s growing strength in the primary contest and underscores his conservative values and ability to get things done.
Noem stated, “Ohio deserves better than the radical liberal views of career politician Sherrod Brown. He’ll be tough to beat, so it’s crucial that we unite behind Bernie now.” The early voting for the Ohio Republican primary is scheduled to begin on February 2, with the primary itself taking place on March 19. Brown, one of two Democratic incumbents up for reelection this year in Ohio, is considered a key target for Republicans hoping to regain the Senate majority in November.
However, Brown has already started targeting Moreno, labeling him as “Trump’s hand-picked candidate.” Moreno, who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump in December, has also clashed with his primary opponents, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Senator Matt Dolan, particularly on the issue of border security. Notably, the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm has not yet prioritized funding for any of the three primary candidates as the strongest contender to challenge Brown.
Despite Moreno’s endorsements from prominent figures like Trump, Representative Jim Jordan, and Senator John Barrasso, GOP strategists caution that he should not assume the nomination is guaranteed. They advise Moreno to invest some of his own money to effectively communicate these endorsements to Ohio voters. His competitors, LaRose and Dolan, have enjoyed more name recognition due to their previous political experience, with LaRose holding statewide office and Dolan having run in the primary for Senator JD Vance’s seat in 2022.
The chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, Senator Steve Daines, emphasized the importance of the primary and the need for Republicans to select a strong candidate to challenge Brown. Daines stated, “We think that Matt Dolan, Bernie Moreno, and Frank LaRose are all capable of beating Sherrod Brown. We will have a primary… in March, and we’ll be off to the general election.”
In this highly contested race, Moreno’s endorsements and his conservative values position him as a formidable contender against Brown. However, he must work to overcome the name recognition advantage of his primary opponents and effectively communicate his message to Ohio voters. The outcome of the Ohio Republican primary will be closely watched as Republicans aim to regain control of the Senate in the upcoming November elections.
About the Author:
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Digital covering politics, crime, police, and more. She can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @danimwallace. Stay up-to-date with the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and other political content by subscribing to this newsletter.
