The United States federal election is in just 36 days. While many are focused on the top of the ticket, namely the presidential race, others are preparing for a close race between incumbent Ohio senator Sherrod Brown and Bernie Moreno.
The two are campaigning for one of two Ohio U.S. Senate seats that play a crucial role in Ohio’s swing state reputation.
Sherrod Brown
Senator Sherrod Brown is Ohio’s incumbent Democratic U.S. senator. He has served as chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in the U.S. Senate and served as Ohio’s 13th congressional district representative.
A lifelong Ohioan, Brown has spent his political career fighting for the idea that hard work should pay off for everyone, no matter who you are, where you live or what kind of work you do, according to his website. As a result, he has spent time with the Finance Committee, the Agriculture Committee and is the longest-serving Ohioan on the Veterans Affairs Committee.
According to Brown, the best ideas don’t come out of Washington, D.C. but out of conversations with Ohioans. He has held nearly 500 roundtables across Ohio listening to constituent concerns.
Brown’s policy platform includes raising the federal minimum wage to ensure a livable income, supporting unionization and workers' rights, expanding access to affordable healthcare, promoting equitable funding for public education and support for teachers and advocating for stronger protections for voting rights and accessibility to the electoral process.
Brown also supports renewable energy initiatives, such as clean air and water protections and opposes discrimination by promoting equal rights and opportunities.
Bernie Moreno
Bernie Moreno is the Republican candidate for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat. He was born in Bogota, Colombia, before moving to the U.S. at the age of five. He purchased his first car dealership in 2005 where, through his work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, he turned it into one of the largest dealership groups in the country.
More recently, in 2018, he co-founded ChampTitles, eliminating the need for states to issue paper titles. The company has grown with Moreno serving as Chairman of the Board; however, he recently sold his stake in the company and is no longer board chair.
After a long career, Moreno sold most of his business to begin focusing on his passion: protecting the American dream for another generation. According to Moreno, solving the country’s problems requires common sense.
In Washington, Moreno said he will fight to shrink government, protect freedoms, stop the Chinese communist party from taking American data and land and put America first.
“I am running for the United States Senate because, for too long, the men and women who move Ohio forward, American workers, have been left behind by career politicians like Sherrod Brown and Joe Biden,” Moreno said in a video titled “Why I’m Running.” “All elected officials should strive to create a growing middle class where the American Dream is accessible to anyone, regardless of their background.”
Moreno’s policy platform includes reducing government spending and inflation, supporting Israel and fighting anti-semitism, supporting a ban on late-term abortions, securing America’s borders, enacting term limits for Congress, ending socialism in the U.S. and defending the Second Amendment.
Voting
Although Election Day isn’t until Nov. 5, Ohioans can voice their opinions at the polls beginning Oct. 8 via mail-in ballots or in-person early voting.
According to the Secretary of State’s website, absentee voters must turn in their ballots by 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29, while mail-ins must be postmarked before November 4 to be included in the electoral count.
For more information about candidates or voter registrations and regulations, visit VoteOhio.gov.
