Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, has announced his bid for the U.S. Senate, joining other GOP candidates looking to unseat Democrat Sherrod Brown in the upcoming elections. LaRose, who is in his second term as Ohio’s elections chief, has successfully navigated the divided factions within the Republican Party and secured a convincing 59% of the statewide vote in his recent reelection bid.
Having taken office in 2019 with just over 50% of the vote, LaRose’s political experience extends beyond his role as Secretary of State. Prior to his current position, he served as a state senator and also had a stint as a U.S. Army Green Beret. LaRose faces competition within the GOP for the nomination, with State Senator Matt Dolan and wealthy Cleveland business owner Bernie Moreno also vying for the opportunity to challenge Brown.
Dolan, a first-time Senate candidate, invested nearly $11 million of his own money into his campaign last year. Although Dolan entered the primary race relatively late, he managed to finish third out of a crowded field. Moreno, who is the father-in-law of Trump-endorsed U.S. Representative Max Miller, was among the top self-funders nationally in the 2022 Senate primary. J.D. Vance, a venture capitalist known for his memoir-turned-movie Hillbilly Elegy, ultimately secured the Republican nomination.
The GOP nominee in next year’s election will face off against Sherrod Brown, a seasoned politician who has been successful in Ohio for many years. Brown was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2007 after a long career in Congress, serving as a congressman, secretary of state, and state representative. However, Brown’s liberal voting record and Ohio’s shift towards the Republican party make him more vulnerable in this election cycle. Since 2006, he is the only Democrat apart from the state Supreme Court to have won a statewide election, whereas Ohioans voted for Donald Trump by a wide margin in the last two presidential elections.
The race for the Ohio Senate seat is shaping up to be an interesting one, with multiple candidates vying for the nomination and a long-serving Democratic incumbent facing a changing political landscape in the state. As the campaigning and primaries unfold, it remains to be seen who will ultimately secure the nomination and go head-to-head with Sherrod Brown in the general election. Ohio voters will play a crucial role in determining the outcome and could have a significant impact on the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
