Rubio backs Moreno in close Ohio Senate race.

Sen. Marco Rubio⁢ Endorses Bernie Moreno ‌in Ohio Senate Race

Sen. Marco‌ Rubio (R-FL) has thrown his support behind Bernie Moreno in the Ohio Senate race, providing a significant boost to the Republican candidate in the highly competitive 2024 cycle. Rubio praised Moreno, an Ohio businessman, for his conservative values and status as a “political outsider.”

This ​endorsement gives Moreno‍ a prominent ​endorsement in a crowded primary​ field,​ as multiple candidates‍ vie to challenge incumbent⁤ Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) next year.

Rubio: ⁣”Ohioans Will Have Someone Beholden Only to Them”

In​ a statement, Rubio expressed his⁢ belief that ⁣the U.S. Senate needs more conservative leaders like Bernie Moreno. He commended Moreno for his success in navigating government red tape to build and run successful businesses. Rubio emphasized that with​ Moreno in the U.S. Senate, ⁤Ohioans can ​trust that he will fight for their families, communities, and values.

Moreno faces⁤ strong competition in the GOP primary, including Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and‌ state Sen. Matt Dolan. In the 2022 midterm elections, Moreno and Dolan ‌both fell ‌to Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), who has also endorsed ​Moreno for the 2024 election.

Moreno’s Response: “The Only Campaign with Momentum and Vision”

Moreno expressed gratitude⁤ for Senator Rubio’s endorsement, stating that it aligns with the momentum and vision of his campaign. He criticized Sherrod Brown for prioritizing D.C. special interests over the needs of working families. Moreno looks forward to collaborating ⁢with ​Senator Rubio, Senator Vance, and other conservatives ⁤in the ‍U.S. ‍Senate who will fight for the ‌people of ‌Ohio.

Ohio Senate Race: A Highly Competitive Election

The Ohio Senate race is expected to be one of the most⁢ fiercely contested elections in the‌ entire 2024 cycle. The Cook Political Report rates it ​as a “toss-up,”‌ along ⁢with only two ⁣other races. Sherrod Brown initially flipped the seat to the Democrats in 2006,‍ making him ‍one of the four Democrats holding‌ statewide office in Ohio.

Ohio’s Shift‌ to a Reliable State for Republicans

While‌ Ohio was once considered a crucial swing state, it has‍ become increasingly reliable for⁤ Republicans, particularly ‍in the last two presidential election cycles.

Flipping Crucial Senate Seats: A Strong Position for Republicans

In the⁤ 2024 election cycle, there are 34 Senate seats ‍up for grabs. Democrats⁤ must defend 23 of these seats, while Republicans only need to defend 11. This puts the GOP in ⁢a favorable position to flip crucial Senate seats, potentially shifting the balance of power in the upper chamber.

Current Senate Majority ​and Republican Strategy

Currently, Democrats hold a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as⁢ a tiebreaker vote if needed. Therefore, Republicans only need to flip one Senate seat to secure the majority if they win back ‍the White House in 2024. If they fail to regain the Oval Office, the party will need to secure two additional Senate seats.

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