In November, Ohio voters have the chance to determine the fate of the U.S. Senate’s upcoming term. Seven competitive races are likely to decide which party will end up holding the majority, according to the New York Times. The Ohio race between Republican Bernie Moreno and incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is one of two races considered a true toss-up.
According to Voice of America, “For years, the U.S. state of Ohio was a solid indicator of American political opinion, choosing the winning presidential candidate in every election from 1964 to 2016.” However, now Ohio is reliably conservative – posing a concern for the presidential election and control of the Senate.
As Ohio begins to establish its place on the right amid a crucial Senate election, voters must beware of Moreno. His rhetoric surrounding top issues and the false narrative of his background proves his inability to serve Ohio.
Moreno’s baseless and hurtful language brings speech similar to former President Donald Trump’s to the state. Specifically, on abortion, – a driving issue in all elections this November – Moreno has not taken an elegant approach.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that just before he launched his Senate campaign, Moreno said, "Could you imagine if we could go back into the DeLorean, we popped into the DeLorean out there and you went back and met Madison and Hamilton and Washington and said, 'Hey, are you in favor of abortion?' They would murder you."
Considering he also has inserted comments about pregnancy not happening in the checkout line of Kroger, Moreno has not been approaching a vulnerable issue with grace.
Recently, Moreno has received backlash from both parties for saying, “It’s a little crazy, by the way — especially for women that are like past 50. I’m thinking to myself: I don’t think that’s an issue for you.”
Completely undermining every woman’s individual experience, Moreno has been insensitive and hurtful to many Ohioans. Abortion access and the right to reproductive healthcare are not humorous topics for him to throw in what he thinks are witty and clever comments.
Along with his offensiveness, Moreno’s top campaign strategy seems to be his self-made success in achieving the American dream. He presents his story as an immigrant who believed in a struggling business and transformed himself into a millionaire.
According to the New York Times, “We came here with absolutely nothing — we came here legally — but we came here, nine of us in a two-bedroom apartment,” Moreno said in 2023, in what became his signature pitch to voters. His father “had to leave everything behind,” he said, remembering what he called his family’s “lower-middle-class status.”
His story establishes a false narrative well, making it difficult to see beyond the exaggerations.
Moreno was born in Botogá, Colombia where he had generational wealth waiting for him. His family is full of successful individuals — especially his parents who attended college in the U.S. The wealthy son of South American elites is not relatable to many Ohioans.
Instead, he chooses to push his self-made story of purchasing an unsuccessful Mercedes-Benz dealership with his life savings, which is probably an out-of-reach amount for many. Now, he has assets valued up to $105.7 million and a yearly income of close to $6 million, according to the New York Times.
“Colombian millionaires don’t leave Colombia to live the American dream or to prevent their children from growing up with privileges,” Federico Gómez Lara, editor-in-chief of Cambio Colombia, a magazine of current affairs and politics and a grandson of Dorita Salive, wrote for the New York Times . “They leave Colombia because they have enough money to throw away. Colombia seems like a village to them, and they want their children to be educated and mingle with the real rich.”
This fabricated story of being a poor immigrant is not his reality.
All too often, voters fill out their ballot strictly along party lines. Ohioans – Democrats and Republicans alike – must remember that Moreno’s hurtful language surrounding abortion and false narrative about his wealth make him the wrong candidate to represent women and the working class.
Layne Rey is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Layne know by tweeting her @laynerey12.
