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Bernie Moreno has won the U.S. Senate Race for Ohio in the 2024 election. Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP/Getty Images via TNS [Original caption: U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, Republican of Ohio, speaks before former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump takes the stage during a Buckeye Values PAC Rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on March 16, 2024.]

Bernie Moreno has been elected as a U.S. Senator of Ohio for the next six years.

Trump-backed, staunch Republican Moreno — a car salesman born in Bogotá, Colombia — defeated incumbent and long-time Democratic player Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH-D) to win the election with 50.6% of the vote when it was called Tuesday at 11:27 p.m., according to the Associated Press.  

Brown, who had previously held his Senate seat since 2007, and Moreno led a contentious race fueled by constant and aggressive campaign advertising. 

According to a Nov. 1 X post from AdImpact Politics, an advertising intelligence company that tracks political advertisements, the 2024 Ohio Senate election is the most expensive non-presidential race on record at $467.4 million in spending. 

Since January 2021, the U.S. Senate has held a Democratic majority at 51-49, with Sen. Chuck Schumer from New York as the Senate’s majority leader, according to the U.S. Senate website.

There are 34 seats up for election in 2024, with 23 being held by Democrats or Independents prior to the races, according to 270towin’s website. For Republicans to take Senate control, the party needs a net gain of two seats. Alternatively, the party could be in the majority through a presidential win along with the net gain of one seat.

This contest between Brown and Moreno has a heavy hand in determining the makeup of the U.S. Senate. At the time of publication, according to The New York Times, the Republican Party has successfully flipped two seats — currently holding 50 seats — and Democrats hold 41. Although the specific seat breakdown is subject to change as results are finalized, the Republican Senate majority will not change. 

According to Moreno’s website, the former car dealer believes in securing the U.S. border, beating “communist China,” banning late-term abortion and “restoring the integrity of American elections.”

The most recent person elected to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate — besides Moreno — was current vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance (OH-R) in November 2022. Vance beat out then-Democratic candidate Tim Ryan with 53.28% of the vote, according to NPR. 

If the Trump-Vance ticket wins the presidential election — rendering Vance’s current Senate seat vacant — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine will have the power to select his replacement, leading to a special election that would take place during the 2026 midterm election, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. At that time, DeWine’s appointee could choose to “defend their seat.”

 

Student reactions

Elizabeth Lombardi, president of Ohio State College Republicans, said Moreno’s win is something the group is “extremely excited about.” 

“We’ve worked closely with Moreno previously, and have had members of our group closely involved with his campaign,” Lombardi said. “We were extremely excited to see Bernie beat the incumbent, Sherrod Brown, and we are excited for the future of Ohio.”

Jo Baldwin, president of Ohio State College Democrats, did not respond to The Lantern’s request for comment by the time of publication.