Republican Moreno Secures Ohio Primary Victory With Democratic Backing

Conservative outsider and businessman Bernie Moreno emerged victorious in Ohio's Republican Senate primary last week with notable endorsements including one from former US President Donald Trump and a Democratic group.

Colombian-born Moreno, a self-proclaimed populist and wealthy businessman who formerly owned car dealerships, beat his more centrist Republican opponent Matt Dolan with backing from Trump and allies of Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Duty and Country PAC, a fundraising entity affiliated with Senate Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC with ties to Schumer, allocated over $2.5 million for advertising campaigns aimed at bolstering Moreno's candidacy. Their efforts targeted Trump loyalists, portraying Moreno as a good candidate to support him in Washington.

The move reflects a broader strategy within the Democratic Party to promote candidates perceived as more susceptible to defeat in general elections.

Reagan McCarthy, a spokesperson for Moreno's campaign, criticized this approach.

"They thought President Trump would be easy to beat in 2016, and then they got their clocks cleaned when he demolished Hillary Clinton. The same thing is going to happen to (incumbent Democratic Senator) Sherrod Brown this year."

Analysts view the upcoming Ohio Senate election as a tightly contested race.

In November, Moreno will compete against Brown, a well-established Democratic senator who won reelection in the 2018 midterms by a margin of almost seven points.

Brown faces a challenging reelection bid in the northeastern state, which has historically leaned Republican, particularly during the Trump administration.

The outcome of the Ohio Senate race holds substantial implications for the Senate's balance of power and the broader political landscape. -