Senator Sherrod Brown, the lone Democrat holding statewide elective office in Ohio, secured his renomination for his Senate seat on Tuesday, setting the stage for a heated battle in November as three Republicans vie for the opportunity to challenge him.
The Republican primary has been a fierce competition among Bernie Moreno, a wealthy former car dealer endorsed by former President Donald J. Trump, State Senator Matt Dolan, whose family owns the Cleveland Guardians baseball team, and Frank LaRose, Ohio’s secretary of state. The winner of this slugfest will face off against Senator Brown in the general election, facing the challenge of depleted funds and the aftermath of a negative primary campaign.
Despite the challenges ahead, the Republican candidate will be running in a state that Trump won in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections by eight percentage points. Senator Brown, on the other hand, remains unfazed by the competition, emphasizing his pro-worker stance and his track record of standing against free-trade agreements and in support of unions.
With control of the Senate hanging in the balance, Ohio is expected to draw significant attention as one of the key battleground states. The Senate Leadership Fund and American Crossroads, both aligned with Senate Republican leadership, have already reserved nearly $83 million in advertising time for the fall campaign in Ohio.
Senator Brown, known for his strong fundraising abilities, has raised over $26.7 million this election cycle and has $13.5 million cash on hand. In contrast, the Republican candidates have significantly less in their war chests, with Moreno and Dolan each having spent down to less than $2.4 million by February’s end, and LaRose below $600,000.
The Republican primary reflects a clear divide between the traditional Republican establishment and the new Trump wing of the party. Dolan has the support of Ohio’s Republican governor, Mike DeWine, and recently retired senator Rob Portman, while Moreno is counting on Trump’s endorsement to rally support from the party’s loyal base. As the race heats up, all eyes will be on Ohio as the battle for the Senate seat intensifies.
