Bernie Moreno’s victory in Ohio wasn’t just another GOP win; it was a resounding rejection of the Sherrod Brown era and a shift in Ohio’s political landscape. NBC News projected that Moreno, a Colombian immigrant who made a name for himself as a high-profile Cleveland car dealer, will take over Brown’s Senate seat, marking the end of Brown’s 50-year career in Ohio politics and cementing the state’s transformation into solid red territory.
Moreno’s win is significant not only because he’s the first person of color to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate but also because it brings the GOP one step closer to regaining control of the chamber. With Republicans flipping a Democratic seat in West Virginia and pushing hard in Montana, the Moreno victory bolsters their momentum and sends a clear message about Ohio’s priorities.
For decades, Brown crafted himself as a “man of the people,” a progressive fighter who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the working class and labor unions. He built a reputation opposing NAFTA and siding with union workers on the factory floor, which helped him weather many an election storm, even as Ohio drifted rightward.
But in 2023, aligning with the Democratic Party’s increasingly leftist agenda seemed like a bridge too far for voters in this heartland state. His campaign tried to keep it subtle, downplaying party ties and pointing out areas of agreement with Trump, but Ohioans didn’t buy it. The GOP’s relentless ads highlighted Brown’s ties to Biden and Harris, casting him as another cog in the D.C. Democrat machine, and that narrative stuck.
Enter Bernie Moreno, a political newcomer who aligned himself tightly with Donald Trump. That move might have drawn some raised eyebrows in other parts of the country, but in Ohio, where Trump’s brand is alive and well, it was a strategic win. Moreno leaned on that endorsement hard, bringing Trump’s popularity in the Buckeye State along for the ride. And while Moreno faced a flood of attacks, from his business record to his comments on abortion and immigration, they ultimately didn’t stick.
#BREAKING: Republican Bernie Moreno defeated incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, AP projects. #Election2024 #10TV https://t.co/0rJ5htFWgu
— 10TV (@10TV) November 6, 2024
Moreno’s anti-abortion stance drew plenty of fire, particularly since Ohio voters had recently voted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. Democrats pounced on the chance to paint him as an extremist, especially after a clip surfaced showing him at a campaign event downplaying abortion as a voting issue, even making an offhand comment about “women past 50.”
That comment caused enough of a stir that even fellow Republicans, like Nikki Haley, raised an eyebrow. Democrats thought they’d landed a solid blow, but Ohio voters, it turns out, were more focused on the economy, border security, and the leftward shift of national Democrats.
Despite Brown’s longtime influence and the Democrats’ aggressive messaging, the populist appeal of a Republican outsider with a Trump endorsement won the day. Moreno’s victory, backed by big spending from GOP super PACs and fueled by Ohio’s shift right, cements the GOP’s grip on the state.
Bernie Moreno wins election to U.S. Senate from Ohio, beating incumbent Sherrod Brown: https://t.co/typ6yQwtnV pic.twitter.com/8FQPPPF8CQ
— Local 12/WKRC-TV (@Local12) November 6, 2024
The Democrats’ time in Ohio’s driver’s seat has come to an end, and Moreno’s win signals that Ohio is no longer up for grabs. It’s firmly on Team Red now, and if Moreno’s campaign is any indication, the GOP won’t be giving it back anytime soon.
