One of the nine Republicans who filed paperwork to seek the party鈥檚 nomination for US Senate on Wednesday . Cleveland tech entrepreneur and high-end car dealer Bernie Moreno is the first candidate to drop out.
Moreno sounded optimistic as he filed petitions at the Secretary of State鈥檚 office on Wednesday.
鈥淲e鈥檙e executing the exact plan we wanted to have. So we鈥檙e in really good shape. You gotta remember ten months ago, nobody knew who the heck I was, and yet in Clermont County on Monday, we got their endorsement, people who'd never heard of me ten months ago," Moreno said. "People are sick of the same old, same old. They don't want recycled politicians. They don't want recycled candidates, they don't want political insiders, and they certainly don't want career politicians."
贬别谤别鈥檚 yesterday, after filing his paperwork for the May primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate. Former president Trump has released a statement praising Moreno鈥檚 decision to end his campaign, which Trump said will 鈥渆nsure the MAGA Ticket wins BIG鈥�
— Karen Kasler (@karenkasler)
Moreno said in a statement: 鈥淚 asked for a private meeting with President Trump this afternoon to discuss the state of the Ohio Senate race. I am a businessman, not a politician. Business leaders recognize patterns before they happen. After talking to President Trump we both agreed this race has too many Trump candidates and could cost the MAGA movement a conservative seat...I am ending my U.S. Senate campaign and will return to the private sector. I will focus my efforts on supporting the candidate that wins President Trump鈥檚 endorsement."
Trump praised Moreno's decision in a statement on his website that was also emailed to reporters.
Moreno jumped into the race last April, the third Republican to publicly announce he wanted the seat after Rob Portman's retirement. He hired former president Trump's senior counselor Kellyanne Conway to guide his campaign.
Moreno was the leading fundraiser in the first few months after he entered the race, but struggled to gain attention. He started a $4 million ad campaign in December, but he hadn't run any ads since January 16. His reflected he'd loaned his campaign $3.75 million.
Moreno's website lists three key Republican talking points on its front page: "Stop Socialism. End Cancel Culture. Term Limits." He also tweeted against President Biden's policies on many issues, especially immigration - often noting he is a "legal immigrant" - along with inflation, China and COVID.
, Moreno said, "President Trump says the election was stolen and he's right", through court cases, audits and fact checks. Moreno reportedly tweeted before the election that conservatives should accept that the 2020 election was over, but deleted those tweets.
Moreno also said in his statement: "This decision may surprise some, but it is what I feel gives us the best chance of success." With fewer pro-Trump candidates in the race, voter support could consolidate behind the candidate Trump does endorse.
All five leading GOP candidates remaining are millionaires, but only Sen. Matt Dolan has said he鈥檚 not seeking Trump鈥檚 endorsement. Trump said he wouldn鈥檛 endorse Dolan, a part owner of the Cleveland Guardians, because of the team鈥檚 name change.
