Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno is projected to win the tightly contested Republican primary for Ohio’s Senate race.
With the backing of former President Donald Trump, Moreno managed to beat State Senator Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose in Tuesday’s primary race. The seat is widely viewed by political analysts as a solid opportunity for a Republican flip in November.
Dolan ran with the backing of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and former Senator Rob Portman, both of whom are viewed as part of the state’s Republican establishment. While Dolan has frequently voiced support for Trump’s policies, he attempted to distance himself from the former president’s character and rhetoric at numerous points during the campaign.
“I’m the only one in this race that’s cut taxes and reduced regulations. Who else has done that? Donald Trump,” Dolan told Fox News on the eve of the primary. “Everyone wants to talk about Donald Trump’s endorsement. I’m the only one who’s actually done Donald Trump policies because it helps Ohio.”
Dolan was the only candidate in the race who had not endorsed Trump in the general election. “His personality? It’s not me. His political style? It’s not me,” he said of the former president during a debate earlier this month. “But his policies that make your life better, make America stronger, make Ohio stronger — that is me.”
Moreno, on the other hand, embraced the former president both as a person and as a candidate. “I am so sick of Republicans that will say ‘I support President Trump’s policies, but I don’t like the man,’” Moreno said. “This is a good man. This is a great American. This man wakes up every day fighting for us, fighting for this country. He loves this country like no other leader in this nation has ever loved this country.”
Moreno also overcame a hit piece from the Associated Press, which claimed an email address associated with the candidate was used to create an adult Friend Finder account in 2008. The outlet later admitted that it had no geolocation data to back up their claims.
Moreno will now be focusing on incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown in November. Democrats currently control the Senate by a 51-49 margin, though Republicans are eyeing a near certain pickup in West Virginia, as well as favorable matchups in Ohio and Montana.
