Inside Ohio's pivotal, expensive Senate race

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) --- Ohio has one of the most highly anticipated and priciest United States Senate races in the country, mostly because whoever wins this race could determine whether Democrats or Republicans hold control of the U.S. Senate. 

“We are already way ahead in this election, and we are going to stay way ahead in this election,” incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said. 

“What does Sherrod Brown do? Sherrod Brown does nothing. Nothing for the community. Zero,” Republican businessman and U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno said. 

Brown is running for his fourth term as senator and is being challenged by Moreno, who won a three-way Republican primary. 

BUSINESSMAN BERNIE MORENO 

If Moreno does win this election, that means both of Ohio’s U.S. Senators will be Republicans. Like Ohio’s other senator, J.D. Vance, Moreno is endorsed by former President Donald Trump. 

“President Trump was in office for four years,” Moreno said. “Look at what he did during the four years. There was never a threat to democracy. He had peace and civility around the world. We had energy dominance. We had a secure border. We were making great progress for working-class Americans. Real wages were going up.” 

Moreno is running on a platform that heavily focuses on securing the southern border and immigration policy. 

Recently, Trump said if elected he would “absolutely revoke” the temporary protective status of Haitian immigrants in Springfield. When asked if Moreno agrees with that policy, he said it is not really a matter of “revoking” anything. 

“He's not saying he's going to ‘revoke’ anything. What he's saying is that Temporary Protected Status is meant to be temporary,” Moreno said. “It is currently extended until February of 2026. At that point in time, it will not be renewed. Saying, ‘Hey, this Temporary Protected Status, since it's going to be over on February ‘26, you should make plans to leave at that point.’” 

On that topic, Moreno said the issues with housing shortages in the state and across the country can also be attributed to poor immigration policies. 

“When you bring 12 million people into this country and say that doesn't affect housing costs, that is a basic misunderstanding of how supply and demand works,” he said. 

But Moreno, an immigrant himself, said he and his party is not anti-immigrant. 

“Here I am as the Republican nominee for the United States Senate and the people taking shots at the Hispanic immigrant is the Democratic Party,” he said. “That should tell you everything you need to know.” 

Moreno said his message to Ohioans is simple: that they will always come first. 

“I'm always going to make sure I put the interests of America and Americans first,” he said. “And I think that that's the difference between me and my opponent.” 

Overall, Moreno says to Brown, “It’s time out for you,” and that it is time for Ohioans to “fire” him. 

“The Democrats have screwed us for the last 40 years,” Moreno said. “It's time for a change. Give Republicans a chance to govern and we're going to make your lives better.” 

SEN. SHERROD BROWN 

Brown said he fights for the dignity of work for Americans and Ohioans. 

“My job is to continue to focus on this race,” he said. “The difference between me and Bernie Moreno, I fight for the dignity of work in me; he stiffs his employees and shreds the evidence.” 

Some central Ohio voters who support Brown said they are mostly concerned about the state of democracy. Brown said the answer is simple.   

“The most important thing to do for democracy is to elect people who will get something done -- Child Tax Credit, help for veterans, fixing pensions,” he said. “When government does things and delivers, people believe in democracy. The best way to reinvigorate democracy is get things done that help individual people so they believe in this country.” 

Tens of millions of dollars have flooded Ohio for the race, something Brown said was not unexpected. 

“We knew that I would be the number one target of Republicans in this in this country. We knew that,” he said. “We've had more money spent against me in this Senate race than any Senate race in the history of the United States of America.” 

Brown said despite that, he is still working to reach voters on the ground. 

“I’m just focused on my race and focused on getting the vote out and talking to people and persuading people,” Brown said.   

On immigration and whether the rhetoric on the topic is important, Brown kept his answer short. 

“I’m always respectful of immigrants,” he said. 

Much of Brown’s campaign has been about what he will do and has done for working Ohioans and about issues like reproductive rights. Brown said Moreno’s comments on the topic are not acceptable.  

“He thinks it's he thinks it's crazy to have thoughts of your own and to speak out. And he thinks it's crazy to advocate for somebody other than yourself. So that's where we draw the line,” Brown said. 

WILL THEY DEBATE? 

While the candidates are busy spreading their messages on the trail at separate events, they have yet to debate each other, despite eyes from all over the country on this race. For context, in the last Ohio race for U.S. Senate, in 2022, between eventual winner Vance and former Congressman Tim Ryan, voters had the chance to see the candidates debate several times. 

This year, both Brown and Moreno said they will take part in a debate, even though voting is already underway.  

“Most reporters have seen me debate every race I've ever run in. I still plan to debate if it gets to that,” Brown said. 

When asked if it is too late for a debate, Brown said “I don’t know, I’ll let you all judge that.” 

Moreno also said he would debate. 

“If he wants to have that debate with me, let's do it right now,” he said. “Sherrod Brown can't stand in the debate stage and debate me because he makes up lie after lie after lie after lie.” 

There are less than 30 days until Election Day on Nov. 5.