Former President Donald Trump has thrown his support behind businessman Bernie Moreno in the Ohio Senate primary, marking the first major test of Trump’s influence in a contested Senate race this year. Moreno is facing off against state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose in a three-way primary to take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, a crucial race for Senate control in the upcoming election.
The Democratic party is closely monitoring the GOP primary and has even launched an outside group to run ads in support of Moreno, believing he is the strongest candidate to challenge Brown in the red-trending state of Ohio. While national Republicans have largely stayed out of the race, former Sen. Rob Portman and Gov. Mike DeWine have endorsed Dolan, causing a divide within the Ohio GOP between the Trump and establishment factions.
The primary race has seen over $34 million in spending, with Dolan and Moreno leading in ad expenditures, particularly focusing on the theme of immigration. DeWine’s endorsement of Dolan, which came late in the race, may attract high-propensity voters but could also alienate some conservatives.
The battle to unseat Brown will be tough in a state that Trump carried twice, with Brown holding a significant fundraising advantage. He argues that all GOP candidates are too extreme for Ohio voters, emphasizing his moderate platform. Democrats view Ohio as a competitive state and anticipate the Senate race to be the main event, as voters will not be bombarded with presidential race ads, benefiting Brown’s campaign.
