As the Ohio GOP Senate primary approaches, the contest is becoming increasingly contentious, poised to take center stage on Saturday with former President Donald Trump‘s appearance.
With the primary on Tuesday and less than eight months until the general election, the three-way race for the Republican nominee between businessman Bernie Moreno, state Sen. Matt Dolan, and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has turned ruthless.
During a debate, both candidates were accused of flip-flopping regarding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, prompting aggressive attacks. Dolan called Moreno a “political phony,” while Moreno compared Dolan to former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WI) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), two prominent Trump critics in the Republican Party.
LaRose called out Moreno for pouring “millions of dollars into liberal causes” and criticized Dolan’s record on guns and abortion.
Moreno was also the subject of an investigation by the Associated Press into an account on an Adult Friend Finder app, which a former intern said he made and connected to Moreno’s email as a prank. The personal nature of the race shows how some of the attacks have gone “beyond the pale,” according to former Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers (R).
An Emerson College Polling/the Hill poll released Wednesday saw the state senator leading by 26%, compared to Moreno’s 23%, and LaRose’s 16%. A massive 32% of voters remained uncertain.
Despite the former president sweeping Ohio in the last two presidential elections, GOP voters are still torn between Moreno and Dolan. Trump arrived in Ohio Saturday to attend an event organized by Buckeye Values PAC, an outside group supporting Moreno’s campaign. His endorsement and visit will likely play a role in Tuesday’s primary.
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A surprising group made a last-minute effort to boost Moreno in the race to take on three-term incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH): Democrats. Duty and Country PAC, a group tied to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), launched a $2.5 million TV ad that labels the businessman as a fierce MAGA supporter, and “too conservative for Ohio,” according to Politico.
Republicans stand a strong chance of flipping the Senate this year, with the GOP needing to secure just one or two seats to best control from the Democrats.
