by Therese Boudreaux
The race for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat is heating up, with both candidates saying their opponent doesn’t have the state’s interests at heart.
Incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown says he is fighting for Ohio workers and businesses. Trump-backed Republican challenger Bernie Moreno, a former car salesman born in Colombia, says he is fighting for the American dream.
The candidates are campaigning on a broad range of issues. Brown (pictured above, left) and Moreno (pictured above, right) both rank American manufacturing and energy independence high among their priorities.
Brown has sponsored legislation and supported initiatives to boost production of American cars, steel and solar panels. Moreno said Brown’s support for electric vehicles “will bankrupt the American oil and coal economy.”
Brown, for his part, said that since Moreno started selling SUVs made in China, the Republican has contributed to a decline in manufacturing jobs in Ohio.
Brown’s campaign website says he has “spent his career fighting for the dignity of work—the idea that hard work should pay off for everyone, no matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of job you do.” However, Brown has faced backlash for a political ad aimed at his opponent that seemed to suggest that all car salesmen are untrustworthy.
Moreno’s initiatives largely overlap with Trump’s, such as cutting government regulations and spending, supporting law enforcement, cracking down on people entering and staying in the country illegally, and opposing abortion.
Brown, by contrast, has not addressed immigration on his campaign website and has supported amnesty for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. He is also a staunch supporter of abortion.
Two of the 16 initiatives listed on Moreno’s campaign website are “End Wokeness and Abolish the Culture” and “End Socialism in America.” Moreno has not specified how he would accomplish these goals in Congress.
“In Washington, Bernie will fight to limit government, protect our freedoms, stop the Chinese Communist Party from taking over our data and land, and always put America first,” his website says.
According to the latest polls, Brown is leading Moreno by more than five points in the race.
– – –
Therese Boudreaux is a contributor Central Square.
Photo “Sherrod Brown” by Sherrod Brown. Photo “Bernie Moreno” by Bernie Moreno. Background photo “US Senate” by Scrumsh.
