Ohio's Democratic Senator Ousted by Republican Challenger in Major Senate Upset

Mar. 15, 2025

Republican Bernie Moreno has unseated Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio, The Associated Press projects, putting Republicans on the edge of taking control of the U.S. Senate.Nearing Election Day, Brown, 71, consistently polled ahead of his Republican opponent. However, Moreno, 57, emerged as a serious challenger in the weeks before Nov. 5, narrowly surpassing Brown inFiveThirtyEight’s final polling average on the last day of the campaign.Brown’s Senate seat was one of the Democrats’ most at risk this election. SinceDonald Trumpconsistently polled ahead ofKamala Harris, Brown had to depend on ticket-splitters for a chance at victory.The race turned into the most expensive Senate election this cycle. The two campaigns spent more than a combined $441 million, according to the ad tracking firmAdImpact. Trump-backed Moreno led in funding with $233 million over Brown’s $208 million. The race may become one of the most expensive non-presidential elections in history.

Ohio’s Democratic Senate Candidate Sherrod Brown and Republican Candidate Bernie Moreno.Anna Moneymaker/Getty; Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty

Sherrod Brown, introduction of the Senate ETHICS Act; Bernie Moreno, Bernie Moreno, the Republican National Convention

Anna Moneymaker/Getty; Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty

The Ohio Debate Commission invited both candidates to face off in a debate, but neither campaign agreed.

Senator Sherrod Brown during a hearing in Washington, DC, on March 7.Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio and chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, during a hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Brisk inflation and hiring data in January haven’t altered the Federal Reserve’s expectation that it will be appropriate to cut interest rates later this year, but Chair Jerome Powell said officials want more evidence that inflation is slowing.

Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty

Bernie Moreno speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 16.Patrick T. Fallon / AFP

Colombian-US businessman Bernie Moreno speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 16, 2024. Days after he survived an assassination attempt Donald Trump won formal nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and picked right-wing loyalist J.D. Vance for running mate, kicking off a triumphalist party convention in the wake of last weekend’s failed assassination attempt.

Patrick T. Fallon / AFP

This was businessman Moreno’s second venture into politics.

In 2022, he entered Ohio’s Republican Senate primary but ended up losing toJ.D. Vance, who was selected as Trump’s running mate. Moreno is most known for building a chain of luxury car dealerships in the Cleveland area. In 2016, he moved into the blockchain industry, co-foundingChampTitlesin 2018.

At five years old, Moreno moved with his family from Colombia to the United States, becoming a citizen at 18 — an experience he highlighted when talking about immigration policy.

source: people.com

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