Three-way race in Ohio's Republican Senate primary is neck and neck: The ... trends now
A three-way race for the Republican nomination in the Ohio Republican Senate primary appears to be razor-thin with just days to go before voters head to the polls.
Matt Dolan, Bernie Moreno and Frank LaRose are all running for the chance to take on Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in November as he seeks a fourth term.
The contest has turned into a Trump-wing of the Republican party face-off with the more establishment wing as the ex-president and Ohio Governor Mike DeWine have backed different candidates in the tense primary on Tuesday.
The Ohio senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country.
Brown is trying to hold onto a seat in a state that has become increasingly red over the past few elections. Republicans are confident they can flip it and several others to retake the Senate from the current one-seat Democrat majority.
An East Carolina University polls showed Dolan with a narrow lead at 33 percent on Friday to Trump-backed Moreno's 31 percent and LaRose's 23 percent among likely GOP voters.
But an Ohio Northern University of Republican primary voters on Thursday showed DeWine-backed Moreno at 22 percent, Dolan at 18 percent and LaRose at 16 percent.
And an 11th hour bombshell report linking Moreno to an adult sex website could determine the outcome in the race.
Republicans Matt Dolan (left), Frank LaRose (center) and Bernie Moreno (right) are in a three way race for the GOP Ohio Senate nomination and the chance to take Sen. Brown in November. The primary is March 19
Former President Trump endorsed Republican Bernie Moreno (second from right) in the GOP Ohio Senate primary
Moreno, who a businessman who owned multiple car dealerships, has the backing of Trump.
The ex-president called Moreno 'the type of MAGA fighter that we need in the United States Senate' and 'successful political outsider' needed to defeat Brown.
Trump is heading to Dayton to rally for him on Saturday just days before the primary which could help propel him across the finish line.
Moreno also has the endorsement of close Trump ally Senator JD Vance.
But Ohio's GOP governor on Monday backed Dolan, a state senator who also ran in 2022 but lost the primary to Vance. He also has the support of former GOP Senator Rob Portman.
DeWine called Dolan the best candidate to win against Brown come November.
'In 2024, the Donald Trump endorsement it the loudest trumpet in the band,' said Ohio Republican strategist Mark Weaver. 'The DeWine and Portman endorsements are still heard, but more at the level of a clarinet.'
What Dolan does have going for him is great personal wealth which he has put behind his campaign allowing him to compete.
Another wrench in the race that could benefit Dolan is an 11th-hour Associated Press report that raises questions over Moreno being linked to an adult website profile.
The AP review found Moreno's email linked to a 2008 Adult Friend Finder profile seeking 'Men for 1-on-1 sex.'
Moreno’s lawyer responded insisting Moreno had nothing to do with the account and said a former intern created the account as a prank.
It is unclear how much of a doozy it will be for Moreno's bid, but Trump's campaign made clear he is not reconsidering the endorsement.
Polling third in the race is the current Ohio Secretary of State LaRose. He's running as 'proven, battle-tested conservative.'
Despite Moreno having the coveted Trump endorsement, both Dolan and LaRose have aligned themselves with the former president. LaRose touted Trump's support when he ran for secretary of state. Dolan said he backs Trump for president.
The state has shifted to a deeper red.
