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

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) is fighting to keep his seat against Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno (R) in the nation’s second-most expensive race, according to a report from Open Secretsa nonpartisan, nonprofit data organization.

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

It is also the first non-presidential race in 2024 to surpass $300 million in ad spending and bookings, according to a report from Advertising impactan advertising spend tracking company.

A Democratic incumbent in the red state of Ohio

This is a crucial election for both Democrats and Republicans because it could play a role in deciding which party controls the U.S. Senate in 2025.

With 100 seats in total – 47 Democrats, four left-wing independents and 49 Republicans – the Democratic Party barely holds a majority, according to the US Senate website. In addition, there is 34 places to win this year: 19 blues, 10 reds and four independents.

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

In the last two presidential elections, the majority of Ohioans voted for President Donald Trump, according to the Results of the 2016 and 2020 elections.

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

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

Meet the candidates

Sherrod Brown

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

According to US Congress websiteBrown has sponsored and co-sponsored 269 acts during his career, including:

• Build Chips in America Act of 2023: Creates environmental standards for certain American-made semiconductor projects. The Ministry of Commerce is now the lead agency responsible for providing 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: Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase disability compensation, dependent compensation, clothing allowances for certain disabled veterans, and compensation for surviving spouses and children. The amounts payable will increase depending on the cost of living. The VA is also required to publish the amounts payable.
• American Flag Law: Guarantees that all American flags purchased by the U.S. government must be 100% made in America.

He also contributed to passing the FORBIDDEN And DEFEND YOURSELF from Fentanyl Laws, bills to support border patrols and prevent drug trafficking.

This year, the outgoing president says he plans to tackle many issues during his next term. Here are a few on the front lines listed on his campaign site:

• Dealing with special interestslike Norfolk Southern.
• Prioritizing Ohio with legislation that would benefit Ohio businesses and create jobs.
• Fighting for rural Ohioans by providing resources to rural areas, such as upgrading infrastructure and transportation.
• Supporting veterans and military personnel by increasing wages and benefits.

Bernie Moreno

In 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 United States, and he became a citizen at age 18.

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

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

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

• Empowering parents to make choices for their children’s education
• Improve US-Mexico border security, ban amnesty and ‘destroy Mexican drug cartels’
• Ban late-term abortions
• Increase election security
• Allowing free markets to function

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

Phio polling stations close at 7:30 p.m. on election day.

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