CINCINNATI (WXIX) – Ohio’s U.S. Senate race is not only a key race this election season, it’s also an expensive one.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) is battling to retain his seat against Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno (R) in the nation’s second-most expensive race, according to a report by OpenSecretsa non-partisan non-profit data organization.

More than $113.2 million was raised between the candidates. Senator Brown raised the most money for his campaign – $89 million – while Moreno raised more than $24 million, OpenSecrets reported.

It’s also the first non-presidential race in 2024 to surpass $300 million in ad spending and bookings, according to a report by AdImpactan ad spend tracking company.

A Democratic incumbent running in red state Ohio

This is a key election for Democrats and Republicans, as it could play a role in which party controls the US Senate in 2025.

With 100 seats in total — 47 Democrats, four left-leaning independents and 49 Republicans — the Democratic Party barely holds a majority, according to US Senate website. In addition, there is 34 places available this year: 19 blue, 10 red and four independents.

Despite having 17 years under his belt, Brown’s seat is still not guaranteed as he continues to rally through red state Ohio against Moreno.

In the last two presidential elections, a majority of Ohioans voted for President Donald Trump, appropriately 2016 and 2020 election results.

Additionally, there are more than 691,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats in Ohio, based on a May report. Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of State.

With Trump and Ohio native and US vice presidential candidate JD Vance backing Moreno, the battle for Brown won’t be easy.

Meet the candidates

Sherrod Brown

Brown, 71, of Mansfield, Ohio, serves as chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and worked across party lines to pass the bipartisan legislation.

Conformable US Congress websiteBrown sponsored and co-sponsored 269 acts in his career, including:

• Building Chips in America Act of 2023: Creates environmental standards for certain American-made semiconductor projects. The Department of Commerce now serves as the lead agency to provide financial assistance where it is needed. States are also allowed to “assume responsibility for an environmental assessment” for a semiconductor project.
• Veterans COLA Act of 2023: Requests the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase disability compensation, dependent compensation, clothing allowances for certain disabled veterans, and compensation for surviving spouses and children. Amounts payable will increase with the cost of living. The VA must also publish the amounts to be paid.
• All-American Flag Act: It ensures that all American flags purchased by the US government must be 100% made in America.

It also helped with the transition PROHIBIT and FIND Fentanyl Acts, bills aimed at supporting border patrol and preventing drug trafficking.

This year, the incumbent says he’s looking to tackle many issues in his next term. Here are some of them listed on his campaign website:

• In the face of special interestssuch as Norfolk Southern.
• Putting Ohio first with legislation that would benefit Ohio businesses and bring jobs.
• Fighting for rural Ohioans by providing resources to rural areas such as upgrading infrastructure and transport.
• Supporting Veterans and the Military by increasing wages and benefits.

Bernie Moreno

During Ohio’s March 2024 primary election, Moreno — a former car salesman — defeated two politicians: state Sen. Matt Dolan and Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Moreno, 57, of Westlake, Ohio, was born in Bogata, Colombia. When he was five, his family moved to the US and he later became a citizen when he was 18.

After buying a car dealership in 2005, Moreno co-founded ChampTitles in 2018 and eventually sold his stake in the company once it became successful.

Now the 57-year-old is on his next mission: “Protecting the American Dream for another generation,” says his campaign website.

Like Brown, Moreno has over a dozen platforms listed on its website, which include:

• Empowering parents to make choices for their children’s education
• Better US-Mexico border security, banning amnesty and ‘destroying Mexican drug cartels’
• Prohibition of term abortions
• Increase election security
• Allow free markets to work

More than 2.2 million voters had returned their ballots by Nov. 1, according to the Ohio Secretary of State. dashboard.

Phio’s polls close at 7:30pm on election day.

See a spelling or grammar mistake in our story? Please click here to report it.

Have a breaking news photo or video? Send with us here with a brief description.

Copyright 2024 WXIX. All rights reserved.