Bernie Moreno, the Republican Senate nominee in Ohio whose past as a car dealer has been mocked and scrutinized by his Democratic rival, is preparing a return to the auto industry.
In a recently filed personal financial disclosure statement, Moreno identified himself as a manager of two companies — including a realty business that he lists as an asset — that, according to public records, are developing a Mercedes-Benz dealership.
Moreno, who has said several times during his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown that he sold off all of his businesses to avoid conflicts of interest, confirmed his involvement in an interview. He described himself as an investor in the venture, which will be run by his son Kevin.
Construction on the Columbus-area dealership is not expected to break ground until around the time of the November election, Moreno said, adding that, if he wins, he plans to relinquish his stake in the realty company. Moreno said that because the company is not yet generating revenue or providing income, he does not consider it an operating business like those he divested from as part of his campaign promise.
Sure, Bernie. Sure. I think it’s pretty clear Moreno knows he’s going to lose and is just getting ready for Plan B. I don’t want to mock him but if he were to win, it’s going to be awkward for him on Capitol Hill:
And he’s not having a great time on the campaign trail:
Bernie Moreno doesn't want to talk about abortion.
During a campaign stop in Washington Court House last month, the Republican Ohio Senate candidate accused news media of using abortion to "gaslight Democrat voters." Ohio voters have spoken, he argued − it's time to move forward and "stop picking at wounds that are 52 years old."
But abortion has emerged as a top issue in Moreno's race against Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who's seeking a fourth term in one of the country's most competitive Senate campaigns that could decide which party controls the chamber. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, states including Ohio voted to protect reproductive rights and block abortion bans pushed by the GOP.
The outcome of the 2023 ballot issue put Republicans in a bind, while Brown and other Democrats have cast their opponents as out of touch. Even now, Moreno appears to harbor frustration about the decision to enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution.
"Look, we lost Issue 1 last year because only 52% of evangelical Christians bothered to show up at the ballot box," Moreno said during a July campaign event, according to audio obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. "What did we get in exchange? We have abortion right until birth. We have no parental consent for minors getting an abortion because we didn't show up to vote. Can't do that. They can only cheat so much."
Abortion is legal in Ohio up to 22 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions beyond that to preserve the patient's life and health. The state's parental consent law remains on the books and has yet to be challenged in the wake of the amendment's passage.
When asked about Moreno's comments, spokesperson Reagan McCarthy said he was "referring to low turnout and encouraging voters to be engaged in this election, rather than sit on the sidelines."
Meanwhile, union members continue to slam Moreno’s record and hype up Brown’s record when it comes to workers:
Jeff Adams, President of UAW Local 1219
“Bernie Moreno is the wrong kind of person to represent Ohio workers.Moreno has a record of screwing over workers, stiffing their paychecks, and lying to Ohio workers. Ohio workers can’t trust Moreno to do right by us here in Lima.”
George Jeffries, CAP Council Chairperson on the UAW Lima Troy Area CAP Council
“Bernie Moreno is only looking out for himself and has screwed Ohio workers over time and time again . Moreno has no respect for working people and is willing to sell us out to make himself richer. Workers do not support Moreno because we can’t trust him to fight for us.”
Tiffany McKee, staff representative for the United Steelworkers and the Civil and Human Rights Coordinator for USW District 1
“Ohio workers deserve to know that Bernie Moreno does not have our backs and is not fit to represent us. Workers won’t be fooled by Moreno, who repeatedly stiffed his workers out of the pay they’d earned. The person we can trust is Sherrod Brown because he fights for steelworkers like myself and for all Ohio workers.”
Health, Democracy and Freedom are on the ballot next year and we need to get ready to flip Ohio Blue. Click below to donate and get involved with Brown and his fellow Ohio Democrats campaigns:
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