Businessman Bernie Moreno, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Ohio in the Republican primary, has announced another endorsement from an incumbent U.S. senator, in this case Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). The seat, currently held by vulnerable incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown, is considered one of the most critical Senate races in 2024 and a key opportunity for Republicans to take the seat in what appears to be a win-win for them.
“The United States Senate needs more conservative leaders like Bernie Moreno,” Rubio said in his Wednesday endorsement. “He fought through government bureaucracy to build and run successful businesses. He created jobs, raised a family and gave back to his community. Bernie is a proven leader who knows how to get things done. With Bernie in the U.S. Senate, Ohio will know they have someone who is committed only to them and will fight every day for their families, their communities and their values.”
Moreno, based in Cleveland, is well known in the area for his business experience, including his work with auto dealers.
“I am honored by the endorsement of Senator Marco Rubio,” Moreno said in response. “Senator Rubio clearly sees what people across Ohio see – our campaign is the only one with the momentum and vision to restore Ohio’s voice in the U.S. Senate. “Sherrod Brown spent too long talking about an important issue and made it happen just for DC. I look forward to working with Senators Rubio, Senator Vance and other conservatives in the US Senate who will fight for working families,” he said, referring to other support, received.
Honored to have the endorsement @marcorubio in my U.S. Senate race in Ohio.
As a member of the United States Senate, I will join Senator Rubio in fighting for pro-family economic policies and pro-worker trade policies that strengthen our middle class and hold China accountable. pic.twitter.com/Bpp2BYt94Y
— Bernie Moreno (@berniemoreno) August 2, 2023
Moreno quickly gained the support of Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), who won the November 2022 election to replace now-retired Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Both Vance and Moreno ran in the crowded Republican primary, although Moreno dropped out early. Vance received an endorsement from former and potentially future President Donald Trump last April, leading to a surge in polls and winning the primary. Moreno enthusiastically supported Vance.
Although Trump has yet to receive an endorsement, he spoke highly of Moreno around April when he announced his candidacy.
Trump also made positive remarks about Moreno recently, during his remarks at last month’s Turning Point conference, where Moreno and Vance also spoke.
🚨President Trump makes modern statement regarding Ohio’s 2024 Senate race: “‘We love Ohio and we love Bernie Moreno.’
pic.twitter.com/Q36mCSpTuO— Calvin Coolidge Design (@TheCalvinCooli1) July 15, 2023
Trump and Moreno have a further connection in the sense that Moreno’s daughter is the wife of Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), who was an adviser to the former president and gained support in his 2021 congressional race.
Kurt Schlichter also praised Moreno in his columns for Townhall, including: last month:
Ohio: Sherrod Brown is a weird communist idiot that my home state has inexplicably elected several times, even as it has become increasingly redder over the years. The idea of a younger, less masculine Bernie Sanders representing Ohio is a bizarre one, and this cycle it’s time to send him where the burnt-out Pinkos go. Trump won’t hurt the GOP here, but the impeachment issue will hurt Brown because Brown considers another Democrat to be sane for his crimes. I like Bernie Moreno here, but this is going to be an critical primary because the GOP smells blood. This is a likely GOP victory.
Moreno was also mentioned in another column from March:
I like Bernie Moreno, the car dealership magnate who quit last time to pave the way for JD Vance. I met him at CPAC. He’s chilly. He has a seat. He and my wife were talking to each other in Spanish and I think they were talking bad about me. His pro-American dream program for immigrants is contagious – it’s real and tough to phony. This is another candidate in that normal/competent position that voters want right now. Yet there is no employ for communist nonsense. Cool.
Moreno is running in the primary alongside Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan, who also ran in 2022, although he finished third with 23.34% of the vote. It came even after the Mainstream media looked Give him reinforcement as a result his views run counter to Trump, who remains a popular figure in Ohio and who won by about 8 points in 2016 and 2020.
LaRose, who also supported Vance’s 2022 Senate bid, was the only sitting secretary of state this year to receive Trump’s endorsement. He won re-election by over 20 points. LaRose he also supported Trump in the 2024 presidential primaries shortly after his official announcement last month.
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Steve Daines (R-MT) told CBS News last month that the NRSC believes either candidate can win the race, which is why they are not participating in the primary.
Race is considered by forecasters for “tossing it up.”
