Senate race: LaRose targets Moreno on abortion, Dolan blocks gender-affirming care
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A debate among Republican nominees was one of many events to take place in Ohio's U.S. Senate race last week.
State Sen. Matt Dolan, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and businessman Bernie Moreno continued their race to unseat the incumbent Democrat, Sherrod Brown, in November ahead of the primary election on March 19. That included a debate on NBC4 you can watch here.
Here are developments from the past week.
LaRose's border plan
LaRose released a plan to secure the Mexican border, calling it "aggressive and comprehensive."
"We need to send three divisions to the border until the wall is finished. If you want to stop people pouring over the border, put a lethal deterrent in their way," LaRose said.
He said the "humanitarian crisis" can then be addressed from a position of strength.
Ramaswamy endorses Moreno
Former Republican presidential candidate and Upper Arlington resident Vivek Ramaswamy endorsed Moreno. Ramaswamy -- who endorsed former President Donald Trump after ending his presidential bid -- follows in Trump's footsteps as speculation about a potential partnership between the two circulates.
"Bernie is a proven Conservative, political outsider, and the right candidate to put career politician Sherrod Brown out of a job," Ramaswamy said.
Republican primary debate
During the debate Monday night, the three Republicans sparred over abortion, Jan. 6, border security and more.
On border security, LaRose seemed to endorse drone-striking Mexico. When asked if he agrees with calls for military intervention including drone strikes, LaRose responded, “100%.”
Dolan targeted Moreno on allegations he shredded evidence in a lawsuit claiming he committed wage theft. Moreno challenged the accusations, but an NBC4 fact check showed that court records affirmed Dolan's claims.
LaRose targets Moreno
LaRose took aim at one of his opponents on abortion. Despite Moreno claiming to be an abortion opponent, a news release from LaRose's campaign accused him of holding different views.
"During his six years as a Cleveland Foundation board member, however, Moreno approved millions in cash grants to Ohio’s largest abortion providers and to political organizations seeking to block any limits on abortion in the state," the release stated.
The release alleged that under Moreno, the Cleveland Foundation approved 22 separate grants totaling $2.08 million to abortion advocates. Those advocates included:
- Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio
- Center for Reproductive Rights
- Equality Ohio Education Fund
Dolan overrides veto
Dolan was among the 24 state senators who voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of House Bill 68, which bans gender-affirming care for minors and trans girls' participation in women's sports.
DeWine, a fellow Republican, said the bill could block minors from receiving life-saving care.
“They told me their child is alive only because they received care,” DeWine said after visiting five children's hospitals and speaking with families whose children undergo the treatment.
Endorsements for Moreno
Moreno was endorsed by Congressman Max Miller, who is his son-in-law. Additionally, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) endorsed Moreno. He also added a county endorsement from Scioto County, an area which he has dominated.
Moreno has consistently outperformed his opponents in party endorsements. Since Trump's endorsement, many members of the party appear to have fallen in line.
Moreno at Mar-a-Lago fundraiser
In an email sent out by Friends of Sherrod Brown, the incumbent sounded the alarms about Moreno holding a "huge fundraiser" at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
"Donald Trump's handpicked candidate, Bernie Moreno (R), is holding a huge fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago tonight," the email said. The following day, Team Sherrod sent out a follow-up email stating that Moreno had raised "almost $350,000" at the event.