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After A “Weak” Q3 Fundraising Haul, GOP Political Operatives Question The “Viability” Of LaRose’s Senate Candidacy

Columbus, OH – Frank LaRose’s campaign is on “life support” as he faces a series of scandals and fundraising woes, leading Ohio Republicans to question the “viability” of his Senate campaign. In Q3, LaRose raised less than $792,000 in contributions  – falling far behind his mega millionaire opponents who both self-funded $3 million. 

LaRose’s Senate campaign has faced an onslaught of controversies since he launched his campaign. After his amendment flopped in August, pundits noted LaRose was “the biggest loser” – saying he had a “cloud of Issue 1 above his head” and while noting “some political humiliations last forever.” In the last month, LaRose has come under fire for moving the Secretary of State’s office to his campaign HQ – costing Ohioans $600,000 – while his official office is in disarray and “plague[d]” by turnover as LaRose is “laser focused” on his Senate campaign 

Here’s what they’re saying about LaRose’s Senate campaign on “life support”: 

• Cleveland.com: “Unless something changes dramatically, Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s U.S. Senate campaign is in serious financial trouble with the Republican primary election just months away…”

• GOP Political Operative: “People are free to run if they choose to, but the viability of this candidacy is on life support.”

• The Columbus Dispatch: “Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose is struggling to keep up with his wealthy Republican opponents… It takes money to run in a competitive federal race, and LaRose doesn’t have much of it.”

• Statehouse News Bureau: “Campaign finance filings show LaRose last in list of Ohio’s 2024 candidates for US Senate.”

• NBC News: “LaRose’s name recognition from winning two statewide campaigns made him the early front-runner in polling, but his first quarter as a Senate candidate produced numbers that have Republicans wondering how long he will last. “

• GOP Political Operative:“Based on the latest [Federal Election Commission] filings, it’s going to be hard for Frank LaRose to compete with Moreno and Dolan’s millions.”

• Spectrum News: Frank LaRose Struggles to Raise Money, Threatening His Senate Campaign

Jake Zuckerman, Cleveland.com Politics Reporter: “He is just not fundraising to keep up with the other two so it is starting to raise some doubts about the viability of Frank LaRose’s campaign.”

Curtis Jackson, Spectrum News: “[Money] isn’t everything in politics, it’s the only thing.”

And as LaRose’s campaign struggles, the vultures are circling…

• LaRose Spokesman Ben Kindel: “In 2022, Bernie Moreno set millions on fire only to quit before the primary. Matt Dolan also set millions on fire to finish third.” 

• Dolan Campaign Strategist: “LaRose fundraising number was underwhelming as expected…”

• LaRose Spokesman Brett Buerck: “…Matt Dolan whose anemic fundraising can only be saved from family money despite running for the U.S. Senate for multiple years. Frank’s other primary opponent, who did not have the political courage and belief in his own campaign to make it to the primary in 2022, is also setting millions of his own money on fire to buy a Senate seat.”

• Dolan campaign after Moreno decided after all to write himself a fat check and try to buy Ohio’s Senate seat: “Bernie Moreno pledged to Ohioans on numerous occasions that he wouldn’t self-fund his campaign. What’s clear is that the former used car dealer’s credibility is eroding as quickly as his donor support.” 

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Columbus, OH –  It’s only Monday and the infighting is already spiraling in the Ohio Senate slugfest in the aftermath of Saturday night’s “scorch[ing]” first primary debate where the candidates “clash[ed].” The attacks are also flying after the field posted their third quarter FEC reports – in which every candidate tried to buy Ohio’s Senate seat while posting abysmal fundraising numbers.

See the attacks that are escalating this already “messy” and “bruising” slugfest. 🔥 

• Cleveland.com: “The GOP candidates forum also featured a heated exchange over illegal immigration that illustrates Moreno’s singular pursuit of the GOP’s hard-right base…Dolan and LaRose each painted Moreno as all flash and no substance, and someone with no demonstrated track record.”

• Frank LaRose: “Bernie’s got these slick talking points that are cooked up by consultants and focus-group tested and whatever else to get applause lines.”

• LaRose campaign while desperately trying to outrun his abysmal fundraising numbers: “Frank’s first quarterly report easily outpaces Matt Dolan whose anemic fundraising can only be saved from family money despite running for the U.S. Senate for multiple years. Frank’s other primary opponent, who did not have the political courage and belief in his own campaign to make it to the primary in 2022, is also setting millions of his own money on fire to buy a Senate seat.”

• Dolan campaign strategist on LaRose’s “weak” fundraising:

Dolan campaign after Moreno decided after all to write himself a fat check and try to buy Ohio’s Senate seat: “Bernie Moreno pledged to Ohioans on numerous occasions that he wouldn’t self-fund his campaign. What’s clear is that the former used car dealer’s credibility is eroding as quickly as his donor support.”

What Ohioans are reading today about the Ohio Senate Slugfest today:

• Cleveland.com: Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senate candidates clash in election season’s first candidate forum

• Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio’s Republican U.S. Senate candidates clash over foreign policy in first forum

• Daily Caller: GOP Senate Candidate Accuses Primary Opponents Of Supporting Amnesty In Fiery Exchange

• Columbus Dispatch: Secretary of State Frank LaRose lags behind GOP U.S. Senate opponents in fundraising

• Cleveland.com: ​​Frank LaRose’s latest fundraising poses viability questions for his U.S. Senate campaign

• The Messenger: Ohio Senate Candidate Matt Dolan Raises $4.1M in Third Quarter, Takes Aim At Rival

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Columbus, OH — Today, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson endorsed Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. With the Chair of their campaign committee endorsing their fellow Ohio Republican, every GOP candidate running for the U.S. House should answer: would you support Jim Jordan for Speaker? 

“With the news that NRCC Chair Hudson – the guy responsible for trying to elect Republicans to the U.S. House – has endorsed Jim Jordan, every Ohio Republican running for the U.S. House should now answer this very simple question: would you support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House? Serving in Congress means making tough decisions, and Ohio voters deserve to know where these candidates stand,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 

Republican candidates running for U.S. House in Ohio include: 

OH-1

Orlando Sonza

OH-9

J.R. Majewski

Craig Riedel

Steve Lankenau

OH-13

Kevin Coughlin

Chris Banweg

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TO: Interested Parties

FROM: Ohio Democratic Party

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Tomorrow, the Ohio Senate Slugfest will come to a head as Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan meet behind closed doors at a country club for their first primary debate. With an already “messy,” and “bruising” battle underway, the in-fighting will continue as each candidate makes clear he is not fighting for Ohioans.

What You’ll See At Tomorrow’s Slugfest Showdown

Expect to hear the Republicans running for Senate attack each other, jockey over Donald Trump, and pledge their support for dangerous abortion bans without exceptions for rape or incest. 

You won’t hear any plans for lowering Ohioans’ prescription drug costs, creating good-paying jobs or protecting Ohioans’ retirement.

Gasoline on the Slugfest Fire

Tomorrow will pour gasoline on the primary, which has already been called one of the “messiest, “most expensive” and “bruising” battles in the country. Here are some of the attacks what Ohioans have seen so far:

Bernie Moreno on Frank LaRose: “We put up with so much bad behavior in politics. The reality is, you just got elected for four years as Secretary of State, you’re running for Senate, that’s part of the problem. Shouldn’t you do the job you just got elected to do?”

Trump-ally Andrew Surabian: “At an Ohio U.S. Senate Forum, Bernie Moreno roasts Frank LaRose over his support for funding Ukraine.”

Frank LaRose’s campaign on Bernie Moreno, after LaRose downplayed the Trump endorsement and refused to endorse the former President in 2016, 2020, and even the first week of his Senate campaign: “President Trump is smart enough not to be conned by a used car salesman into buying a lemon.”

Matt Dolan’s campaign on Bernie Moreno trying to buy Ohio’s Senate seat after promising to not “write [himself] a big fat check:” “Bernie Moreno pledged to Ohioans on numerous occasions that he wouldn’t self-fund his campaign. What’s clear is that the former used car dealer’s credibility is eroding as quickly as his donor support.”

More on the Ohio Senate Slugfest:

• Daily Beast: Ohio Is Shaping Up to Be the Messiest Senate Primary of 2024

• NBC: “Ohio’s Senate race next year is expected to be one of the most expensive in the country. It will start with what already has the makings of a messy, Trump-influenced primary…”

• The Messenger: Another competitive and expensive GOP primary is brewing in the Buckeye State

What You Need To Know About The Field

Bernie Moreno is a mega millionaire worth over a hundred million dollars and bought himself luxury homes in places like New York, Florida and the Bahamas. 

Moreno has repeatedly received Trump’s praise and also has the endorsement of J.D. Vance – Trump’s handpicked Senator from Ohio. Last month, Moreno followed Trump and called for a government shutdown, which would have forced nearly 53,000 Ohioans to either be furloughed or work without pay. Moreno said he is “unequivocally pro-life,” supports a national abortion ban, and does not support exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother. 

Frank LaRose isn’t working for Ohio and will do whatever it takes to support his own political ambitions. Since becoming Ohio’s biggest loser when his amendment designed to silence Ohioans and benefit special interests failed in August, LaRose has faced scandal after scandal – most recently for wasting $600,000 in taxpayer funds to move his official office to his campaign headquarters and reports that he is “laser focused” on his Senate campaign while his official office is “plagued” by turnover. 

LaRose, who downplayed the Trump endorsement earlier this year, is facing attacks from his opponents, Trump’s allies, and Ohio grassroots activists for “twisting himself up” to outrun his critical comments –  including that the former President is “racist,” “disgusting,” and “not a role model for children.” Frank LaRose also supports a national abortion ban, opposes exceptions for rape or incest, and is trying to silence and mislead Ohioans by rewriting the November ballot language. 

Matt Dolan is trying to buy Ohio’s Senate seat. Dolan has already self-funded $7 million this cycle and is bankrolling his campaign with a “cheap loan” and sweetheart deal only available to the “super wealthy.” Dolan was recently caught slamming his opponents and Donald Trump, saying whoever has the Trump endorsement will eventually lose. Dolan supports banning abortion and has said that defeating the November amendment – which would overturn Ohio’s current dangerous ban with no exceptions for rape or incest – is a “priority.” 

The Bottom Line

With less than six months left in the primary, this slugfest is only getting nastier as it becomes crystal clear that none of the Republicans running for Ohio’s Senate seat are fighting for Ohioans. 

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As The Showdown Approaches, Here’s The #OHSEN Slugfest’s Top 10 

Columbus, OH – With 2 days left until Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan meet behind closed doors at a country club for their first field-wide primary debate, we’re revisiting their top ten messiest and bruising slugfest moments. As the showdown approaches, it’s crystal clear no candidate in this field is fighting for Ohioans.

The #OHSEN Slugfest’s Top 10:

1. Frank LaRose becomes Ohio’s biggest loser after an August amendment designed to silence Ohioans  – which LaRose made himself the face of – flopped.

The Messenger: “The biggest loser in the fight over this issue is Secretary of State Frank LaRose.”

Cleveland.com: “For Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the father of Issue 1, the damage may prove irreparable. The man charged with administering Ohio elections, now a candidate for the U.S. Senate, wasted about $16 million of our money in an attempt to disembowel participatory democracy. Some political humiliations last forever.”

The Columbus Dispatch: “LaRose is barreling into the 2024 U.S. Senate primary with the cloud of Issue 1 above his head.”

2. Bernie Moreno calls for a government shutdown, despite the significant impact a shutdown would have on Ohioans – including forcing nearly 53,000 Ohioans to either be furloughed or work without pay. 

3. Frank LaRose forces Ohioans to foot his $600,000 bill to move the official Secretary of State office to his campaign HQ, refuses to answer questions about wasting taxpayer dollars despite calls from Ohioans, state lawmakers, and media outlets. 

WATCH MORE FROM WSYX

Toledo Blade: “Ohio Secretary of State’s offenses pile up

Ohio Capital Journal: “Ohio Sec. of State LaRose’s office move amid U.S. Senate candidacy raises ethical questions”

4. After saying months earlier he wouldn’t “write [himself] a big fat check,” Bernie Moreno decides after all to try to buy Ohio’s Senate seat. Then, Matt Dolan – who has already self-funded $7 million this cycle – attacked Moreno and escalated the slugfest.

The Messenger: “However, the Dolan campaign is taking aim at Moreno and highlighting his past comments that he wouldn’t self-fund his campaign. This quarter, Moreno loaned his campaign $3 million.”

Bernie Moreno months before he wrote himself a $3 million check: “I won’t do what my opponent’s doing. I will not – well first of all, it’s my money vs. his family’s money, big difference by the way. But I’m not going to take personal wealth and buy a Senate seat. It’s not good for democracy.”

5. A bombshell report outlines that the Secretary of State’s office is in disarray and is “plagued” by turnover as LaRose’s “sole-focus” becomes his campaign for Senate – the latest example of LaRose continuously putting his political ambitions ahead of Ohioans and the job he was elected to do.

Columbus Dispatch: “In recent months, a dozen officials in LaRose’s office who handled elections, communications and other duties have left, taking with them years of experience in running Ohio’s elections. But the staffing problems extend even further, leading to delays and communication problems with local boards of elections… Three other former employees say the source of these problems is management laser-focused on electing LaRose as Ohio’s next U.S. senator and unwilling to listen to seasoned election experts.”

6. The entire #OHSEN field supports dangerous abortion bans – including bans without exceptions for rape or incest.

Bernie Moreno: “I’m 100 percent pro-life with no exceptions.”

Frank LaRose: “I’m pro-life and if a pro-life measure comes before the Senate, then I would vote as a pro-life American.”

Matt Dolan on Roe v Wade being overturned: “As a pro-life… person, it is exciting.”

7. Matt Dolan was exposed for using a “cheap loan” and too-good-to-be-true sweetheart deal to bankroll his Senate campaign days after a report showed Dolan is using his PAC to funnel money to his campaign consultants instead of supporting Republican candidates as he promised.

Cleveland.com: “The Morgan Stanley financing speaks to some of the financial gateways available to wealthy politicians but closed to most of the constituents they represent.”

The Columbus Dispatch: “But more than one year after its launch, Ohio Matters has spent more money on Dolan’s campaign consultants than candidates. And Dolan, who’s part of the wealthy family that owns the Cleveland Guardians, never made the personal contribution he promised when the PAC kicked off.”

WATCH MORE FROM SPECTRUM NEWS

8. Frank LaRose rewrites the ballot language for the November amendment, which would overturn Ohio’s current restrictive abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest, to mislead and trick Ohioans. LaRose also admits he would overrule Ohioans by voting for a national abortion ban.

WXVU: “Now, the Republican majority of his five-member Ohio Ballot Board — chaired by LaRose and tasked with the job of approving ballot language — stands accused of trying to stack the deck against the abortion rights amendment by inserting what abortion rights groups call misleading, inaccurate and inflammatory language into what should be a simple statement of fact.”

Ohio Capital Journal: “Frank LaRose, the public servant responsible for conducting free and fair elections in Ohio is playing dirty to win. It’s wrong.”

WATCH LAROSE ADMIT HE WOULD OVERRULE OHIOANS ON MEET THE PRESS

9. After LaRose sparked chaos by calling on his primary opponents to financially support the August amendment, Bernie Moreno poured gasoline on the infighting in the Ohio Senate slugfest by blaming LaRose for the August amendment’s flop and admitting it was “100%” about abortion.

Bernie Moreno: “The one thing I would knock Frank on is that he said it’s ‘100% about abortion’ which has screwed up the messaging. It’s 100% about protecting the constitution.”

10. While making himself the face of the August amendment, Frank LaRose made a series of costly mistakes, including sending the wrong ballot language to all 88 county Boards of Elections days before the deadline to send absentee ballots overseas.

Cleveland.com: “Some elections officials estimated the mistake could cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

WATCH MORE FROM WCMH

FIND SLUGFEST SHOWDOWN DETAILS HERE

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