In the midst of Ohio’s Republican Senate primary, both Donald Trump and Democrats are lending their support to Bernie Moreno, a candidate recently rocked by a politically charged revelation. The bombshell, unveiled by the Associated Press, alleges that in 2008, Moreno’s work email from his auto dealership was linked to an Adult Friend Finder account, a platform primarily used for casual sexual encounters.
The account, purportedly seeking “young guys to have fun with while traveling,” contrasts starkly with Moreno’s marriage to a woman and his campaign stance against LGBTQ+ rights.
Moreno attempted to explain the incident by presenting a statement from a former intern, claiming the account was a prank initiated using his boss’s email. Additionally, his campaign provided a signed statement from the company’s vice president, affirming the intern’s access to Moreno’s emails at the time.
However, this explanation failed to appease some Republicans, as reported by Politico. Nevertheless, Donald Trump maintains his support for Moreno, attributing it to the candidate’s alignment with “America First principles.” Trump’s spokesperson, Steven Cheung, criticized the media’s scrutiny, branding it as a smear campaign against Moreno and proof of his threat to establishment politics.
Trump is slated to headline a rally for Moreno in Dayton, Ohio, alongside notable figures such as Senator J.D. Vance, Congressman Jim Jordan, Governor Kristi Noem, and Senate hopeful Kari Lake.
On the other side, Democrats view Moreno’s association with Trump and his personal controversies as detrimental to his candidacy against Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. Even before the Adult Friend Finder scandal surfaced, Democrats invested heavily in advertisements portraying Moreno as a Trump-aligned conservative.
These ads, funded by Senate Democrats’ PACs, aimed to sway Republican voters who typically align with Trump and are disfavored by Democrats. This strategic move mirrors tactics used in previous elections, such as the 2022 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race, where Democrats bolstered a far-right candidate, Doug Mastriano, positioning him as the weakest opponent against Democrat Josh Shapiro.
For Brown to secure his seat in Ohio’s increasingly conservative landscape, he may benefit from facing a vulnerable opponent. Bernie Moreno, an outsider in politics with ties to scandal and controversy, emerges as a potential contender in the GOP primary.
Competing against more seasoned candidates like Frank LaRose, Ohio’s secretary of state, and Matt Dolan, a state senator endorsed by Governor Mike DeWine and former Senator Rob Portman, Moreno’s standing remains uncertain. Recent polling indicates a tight race between Moreno and Dolan, with LaRose trailing in third place and a significant portion of voters undecided.
