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Columbus, OH – At last night’s debate, Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan “got personal” and “continued their attacks” as this “fierce battle” escalated even further. Between the jabs and quips, the field made it clear that they will not fight for Ohioans – whether by supporting a national abortion ban that would overrule Ohioans, opposing the bipartisan border bill backed by border patrol agents, or saying they don’t believe there should be a minimum wage.

Bernie Moreno was also unable to escape his record shredding evidence he was legally required to keep to get out of paying his employees the overtime they were owed and exploiting his political connections to cash out for “at least $5 million.”

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

• Dayton Daily News: “The three Ohio Republican candidates for U.S Senate met at a University of Findlay forum on Monday, attacking each other […] Dolan, LaRose and Moreno all said they support abortion bans”

• Spectrum News: “All three candidates said they support…federal restrictions on abortion, despite Ohio voters enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution last November.”

• Jeff Rusnak on WKYC: “[The field’s] position on reproductive rights frankly, it is laughable and it is appalling what they said. They forget that 57% percent of Ohioans just voted in November [to support reproductive rights].” 

• Shayla Davis, President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus: “We’re talking about a woman being able to make a choice in regards to her body…57% of Ohio has already said that this is our responsibility to decide, and we decided that.”

• Ohio Capital Journal: “…when asked, very directly, if there should be a minimum wage at all, not one said yes.”

• Toledo Blade: “Melissa Cropper, the Ohio Federation of Teachers’ president and secretary-treasurer of the Ohio AFL-CIO, and state Rep. Anita Somani (D., Dublin), an obstetrician-gynecologist, said none of the Republican candidates for Ohio’s contested Senate seat are fighting for Ohioans and they can’t be trusted. ‘We can’t trust Moreno, LaRose, or Dolan to fight for Ohio workers because we’ve seen over and over again that they always put their own interests and corporate interests first and workers last,’ Ms. Cropper said.” 

• WVXU: “When talking about the minimum wage, Frank LaRose got personal. ‘Mr. Moreno has had a problem not even paying people the wages that they earned in his business and had to settle a lawsuit as a result of that.’”

• WKSU:  “LaRose attacked Moreno over a wage theft lawsuit in Massachusetts.” 

• Ohio Capital Journal: “[LaRose] criticized Moreno over a Massachusetts wage theft lawsuit […] In that case, a judge determined Moreno destroyed evidence despite a court order to preserve it.”

• WKSU: “The 3 candidates seeking the Republican Party nomination for the chance to take on Democratic Ohio U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown continued their attacks on one another in their second debate.”

• Jeff Rusnak on WKYC: “It’s going to be really hard when [the candidates] turn and focus on November to somehow […] get a personality transplant… because they’ve really backed themselves into a corner.” 

• Shayla Davis, President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus: “[The field] didn’t say anything different. Same suit, same message…this is not about who can throw the most money around. This is about everyday Ohioans.” 

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GOP Field Doubled Down In Support Of A National Abortion Ban, Opposed Bipartisan Border Bill, Proved They Won’t Stand Up For Ohio Workers

Moreno Couldn’t Escape His Record Of Shredding Evidence To Steal Wages

Columbus, OH – Tonight, Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan escalated the already “messy” and “bruising” slugfest and made it clear they won’t fight for Ohioans – from supporting a national abortion ban that would overrule Ohioans and opposing the bipartisan border bill backed by border control agents, to saying Ohio workers don’t deserve a livable wage. And once again, Bernie Moreno was unable to escape his record of shredding evidence to avoid paying his workers overtime they were owed and exploiting his political connections to cash out for “at least $5 million.”

Here are the top 5 moments from tonight’s GOP debate: 

1. The entire field doubled down in support of overruling Ohioans by passing a national abortion ban. 

Bernie Moreno: “First of all, I’m pro-life. I’ll do everything I can to protect the unborn.”

Matt Dolan: “I am really proud of my pro-life record.” 

Frank LaRose: “Well, it’s well known that I have a history of standing for life and this is something that I don’t run away from.” 

2. Bernie Moreno was slammed, again, for shredding key evidence he was legally required to keep to get out of paying his employees the overtime they had earned.

Frank LaRose: “Mr. Moreno has had a problem not even paying people the wages that they’ve earned in his business and had to settle a lawsuit as a result of that, right?”

Read the full report from Business Insider here.

3. Bernie Moreno doubled down in opposition to “the most conservative border bill in decades” that was backed by Border Patrol Agents – proving he would rather talk tough than do what is right for Ohioans. 

Bernie Moreno: “It is absolutely crazy what was in that bill.”

4. Bernie Moreno was called out for using his “inside” political connections to “boost” his businesses. 

Frank LaRose: “[Moreno is] trying to claim he’s an outsider, he is anything but an outsider… to call yourself an outsider, just completely false.” 

5. The entire field proved they won’t stand up for Ohio workers, saying they don’t deserve a living wage. 

Bernie Moreno: “Minimum wage is never intended to be a livable wage….”

Frank LaRose: “Now, all of us up here seem to agree that there shouldn’t be a rise in the minimum wage…”

Matt Dolan: “…the minimum wage is not intended to be a livable wage…if you want to earn a higher wage, work harder, and make a living out of it…”

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Columbus, OH – The  “bloody,” “bruising,” “messy,” and “expensive” knock-down-drag-out Ohio Senate primary got even messier at tonight’s debate, as Bernie Moreno, Frank LaRose, and Matt Dolan made it clear they won’t fight for Ohioans.

“Ohioans saw tonight that no one in this field will fight for them,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith. “Whether it was Moreno facing more attacks for his history of wage theft, the field supporting a national abortion ban that would overrule Ohioans, saying Ohio workers don’t deserve a living wage, or opposing the bipartisan bill to secure the border – Moreno, LaRose, and Dolan made it clear they’re only out for themselves.”

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Bernie Moreno Called Bill Including FEND OFF Fentanyl Act “Complete Garbage,” “Total And Complete Disgrace” 

Columbus, OH –  Bernie Moreno opposes the passage of the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act, bipartisan legislation that would curb the flow of fentanyl into Ohio communities. 

• Bernie Moreno opposed the bipartisan border security bill – which was endorsed by border patrol agents – that included the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act.

• Bernie Morneo said he read “every word” of the bipartisan border security bill – which included the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act – and called the bill “357 pages of complete garbage” and “a total and complete disgrace.”

• Bernie Moreno also opposes the current bipartisan national security package that includes the FEND OFF Fentanyl Act.

• The FEND OFF Fentanyl Act is a bipartisan sanctions and anti-money laundering bill endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police aimed at combating the country’s fentanyl crisis and saving lives in Ohio by targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain.

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Moreno opposed “the most conservative border bill in decades”

Columbus, OH – Bernie Moreno opposed the bipartisan border bill that was described as “the most conservative border bill in decades” – despite the bill being backed by border patrol agents. 

In response to Moreno’s “blanket dismissal” of the legislation, the Ironton Tribune Editorial Board told Moreno to “demonstrate a more serious approach” instead of “nonstop opposition” and “a lack of workable solutions” that would only “worsen [the] problem.” 

What they were saying about “the most conservative border bill in decades:”

• Border Patrol Agents: “[The bill would] drop illegal border crossings nationwide and will allow our agents to get back to detecting and apprehending those who want to cross our border illegally and evade apprehension… This is why the National Border Patrol Council endorses this bill and hopes for its quick passage.”

• Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens on Fox News: “There are aspects of this bill that would have added additional hundreds of border patrol agents to our rank and file. It would have given us more technology. It would have given us more equipment, infrastructure. Of course I’m going to be supportive of that.”

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see desperately needed border security, asylum, and immigration reforms included in the emergency supplemental funding proposal before the U.S. Senate… We look forward to working with Members of Congress to pass these common sense measures that will improve America’s security by addressing our southern border and supporting Ukraine and Israel.” 

• Wall Street Journal Editorial Board:“By any honest reckoning, this is the most restrictive migrant legislation in decades.”

• Fox News: Bipartisan border package would “overhaul” the immigration system “with tougher and quicker enforcement measures”

• CBS: “If enacted into law, the emerging deal would mark the first major bipartisan overhaul of the nation’s immigration system since the 1990s.”

• Politico: Bipartisan border package was “the most stringent immigration bill endorsed by a democratic president in recent memory”

• NBC News: Bipartisan border package would “impose tougher immigration and asylum laws”

• CNN: Bipartisan border package “would implement strict limits along the US southern border that have not been previously enshrined into law” 

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