Republicans running to face Ohio’s Democratic US Sen. Sherrod Brown this fall vie for voters’ trust

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fractious three-way Republican primary for the chance to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown this November is culminating in Ohio, where candidates are divided more over their pasts than their policy positions.

Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan all favor some level of federal abortion restriction, a position they don’t see as running counter to Ohio voters’ resounding approval last year of constitutional reproductive healthcare guarantees. All three also favor tough treatment of immigrants lacking permanent legal status, restrictions on gender-transition surgery for transgender minors and limiting the teaching of certain sexuality- and race-related topics in schools. The Republican candidates also believe their ideas and their party are better for the economy.

It’s whether voters can trust them at their words that the three — and the deep-pocketed super PACs backing them — are fighting over ahead of Ohio’s March 19 primary. The final debate was held Wednesday at Miami University in Oxford.

Moreno, a wealthy former car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur endorsed by former President Donald Trump, paints LaRose and Dolan as untrustworthy “career politicians,” while casting himself as an accomplished businessman and an outsider.

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