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Columbus, OH – Today, Ohio Democrats running for the Ohio Supreme Court announced their pre-primary fundraising totals for 2024. So far this year, endorsed Ohio Democrats running for the Court have raised the following amounts. 

• Judge Lisa Forbes: $105,210
• Justice Michael Donnelly: $84,792
• Justice Melody Stewart: $41,828

“With so much at stake this year, Ohio Democrats are working harder than ever to flip the Ohio Supreme Court and restore justice, fairness and equality back to the state’s highest bench. For too long, politics has taken precedence over people on the Republican-controlled Court, and we’re ready to stand with Ohio voters to take our court back this November,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 

Ohio is the only state in the country with the opportunity to flip its state supreme court this year. And while abortion rights are clearly on the ballot in 2024, it’s not the only issue that will likely come before the supreme court. Redistricting reform, voters’ access to the ballot and marijuana legalization are all critical issues that will likely be decided by the court Ohioans elect this November. 

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Cleveland.com: Millionaire Republican Candidates Dip Further Into Personal Funds To Bankroll Campaigns In Election’s Final Weeks

Columbus, OH – The “millionaire Republican candidates” running in the #OHSEN primary are still trying to buy Ohio’s Senate seat and posted abysmal pre-primary fundraising totals yesterday. Moreno, LaRose, and Dolan’s laughably terrible totals – and the new multi-million dollar checks they’re writing themselves – prove again that they’re trying to buy Ohio’s Senate seat using personal wealth, out-of-state billionaire PAC money, and their parents’ cash.  

Here’s a reminder of who is funding the #OHSEN field’s campaigns:

• Bernie Moreno has dumped in $4.2 million of his own cash to try to buy Ohio’s Senate seat, writing himself another $1.2 million check this year after last year’s $3 million check – all after he said it’s “not right” for wealthy people to “write a big fat check” and that he wouldn’t “take [his] personal wealth and buy a Senate seat.”

• Frank LaRose loaned himself a “highly unusual” and “myster[ious]” $250,000 last year. LaRose has been relying on out-of-state billionaire Richard Uihlein to bankroll his flailing campaign – new reports show a Uihlein affiliated PAC donated $1 million to a pro-LaRose PAC this year. Uihlein himself gave  the pro-LaRose PAC $3 million last year. Uihlein also funded LaRose’s failed August amendment to silence Ohioans and benefit special interests. 

• Matt Dolan has put in $9 million of his personal fortune into the race. Buying Ohio’s Senate seat is a family affair, given the PAC supporting his campaign has received $2 million from Dolan’s parents.

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Columbus, OH – Yesterday, Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan “came out swinging” during an “hourlong clash” in this “increasingly hostile” and “heated” race.  

The nasty attacks and infighting – which forced the moderator to cut-off the candidates’ microphones several times – proved once again that the field is more focused on fighting each other and exchanging “damaging cross-blows” than fighting for Ohioans. 

Watch the must see moments here and read/watch more about what Ohioans are saying about last night’s debate below:

NBC News: “The three Republicans competing in Ohio’s March 19 Senate primary met tonight for their final debate — an hourlong clash…” 

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.”

Columbus Dispatch: “But the primary has become more heated in recent days as the candidates near the finish line, with no clear frontrunner in sight…Moreno, LaRose and Dolan traded barbs over inconsistencies in each other’s histories.”

WBNS: “Dolan, Moreno and LaRose sprinkled barbs at each other throughout the 60-minute debate at Miami University in Oxford…”

Toledo Blade: “The candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat Wednesday accused each other of shifting positions for political expediency, sometimes called each other names, and argued…Despite Ohioans’ adoption in November of a constitutional amendment barring government interference in abortion prior to the point of fetal viability, all three candidates generally voiced support for federal intervention…”

Dayton Daily News: “All three candidates support a federal abortion ban.”

Cleveland.com: “All three candidates had slightly different sales pitches for voters as they accused their opponents of not being truthful about who they are.”

Dan Sewell, Cincinnati Enquirer: “But Moreno’s business record has drawn scrutiny, after reports surfaced that he settled more than a dozen lawsuits over employee overtime pay and destroyed records. He’s also shown some unsteadiness in debates, such as saying the markets should determine minimum wage and following a question about reproductive rights with an anecdote about strangers helping his daughter load a stroller on a recent flight.”

Stephanie Haney, WKYC: “And it did not seem like those candidates really wanted to answer that question [about reaching across the aisle]. They did not want to talk about collaborating.”   

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.”

NBC: “But with less than two weeks until the primary, the race has turned increasingly hostile as it remains in a competitive haze.”

Ohio House of Representatives Minority Leader Allison Russo, WKYC: “We just listened to an hour long debate where we had three rich guys who essentially offered absolutely no solutions to Ohioans, they spent most of the time calling each other liars. Frankly I’m not sure any of them should be trusted.”

Allison Russo, WKYC: “When directly asked about their support of a national abortion ban, not a single one of these candidates actually directly answered that question. All three are on-record for saying that they do support an abortion ban and I think what is clear is that none of these candidates will actually work to uphold the will of the voters who just in November voted to keep politicians out of the doctor’s office.” 

Allison Russo, WKYC: “I think the last time Mr. Moreno talked about [reproductive rights] his solution was to have really nice people help with strollers on airline flights. That is cold comfort to women in Ohio who are making real decisions that impact themselves and their families, and Ohioans have already spoken on this.”

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Columbus, OH – At last night’s #OHSEN debate, Bernie Moreno went out of his way to tell Ohioans exactly where his priorities lie: fighting for Donald Trump, not Ohioans.

WATCH MORE:

Bernie Moreno: “Let me just say something that needs to be said that hasn’t been said. He’s a good man. President Trump’s a good man. This idea that I support his policies, but not the personality, that’s a bunch of BS, that is media talking points. This is a man that could’ve given up on this country a long time ago. That has taken more abuse than any other human would have ever taken. They’re trying to put the man in jail! Take away his businesses. Put his kids in jeopardy. And what does he do? He wakes up every single day and fights for us and fights for this country. He’s a good man. And we need more people to say that loudly and clearly. It’s not just the policies. We’re so lucky to have a man like that that’s so strong, that’s willing to fight for this country. It’s an inspiration to me, because when these guys lie and make up all kinds of comments, I think, look at what President Trump had to deal with. Russia, Russia, Russia, collusion, fake impeachments. This is a man that is a good and decent human being.”

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GOP Field Doubled Down In Support Of A National Abortion Ban, Proved They’re More Focused on Fighting Each Other Than Fighting For Ohioans

Columbus, OH – Tonight, Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan escalated this “increasingly hostile,” “messy” and “bruising” slugfest and made it clear they won’t fight for Ohioans. 

Here are the top moments from tonight’s GOP debate: 

The entire field doubled down in support of overruling Ohioans by voting for a national abortion ban – and Moreno was slammed for claiming abortion rights are a “talking point.” 

Sheree Paolello, WLWT: “I don’t think it’s a talking point. It certainly is a big issue for so many voters.” 

Bernie Moreno’s microphone was cut not once, but twice, as the debate devolved into a messy fight focused more on exchanging jabs and personal attacks than fighting for Ohioans.

Sheree Paolello, WLWT: “Okay, let’s move on. Let’s move on. Okay. Okay. Okay, we’re moving on.”

A Reminder Of What Ohioans Were Reading Today Ahead of Tonight’s Brawl:

• NBC News: Ohio’s GOP Senate primary turns nasty as Trump’s candidate tries to fend off rivals

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

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