CLEVELAND — Republican Bernie Moreno, Donald Trump’s chosen candidate for Senate in Ohio, defeated state Sen. Matt Dolan on Tuesday night, sparing the former president an embarrassing defeat in a state he won handily in 2020.
Moreno, who will face incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown in the fall, led the Republican primary by more than 17 points with nearly 90% of the votes counted, defying expectations of a close race. He received 50% to Dolan’s 33%, with Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose placing a distant third.
Supporters of Moreno, gathered at a hotel in Westlake to watch the results roll in, broke into cheers of “Bernie!” as the race was called for Moreno just an hour after polls closed.
Moreno had been trading the lead with Dolan, a Republican centrist who has distanced himself from Trump, in the campaign homestretch, raising concerns about his viability as a candidate.
He benefited from Trump’s endorsement but also weeks of stump speeches from Republicans in his orbit. The conservative Club for Growth spent millions on Moreno’s behalf as well.