A U.S. Senate candidate in the Ohio GOP primary election announced Thursday that he was dropping out of the race after speaking with former President Donald Trump.
Bernie Moreno, a luxury car dealer and businessman from Cleveland, said he had made the decision to halt his campaign after having a “private meeting” with Trump earlier in the day in which the two spoke about the Senate race, according to Cleveland News.
“I am a businessman, not a politician. Business leaders recognize patterns before they happen,” Moreno said. “After talking to President Trump, we both agreed this race has too many Trump candidates and could cost the MAGA movement a conservative seat.”
AD BLITZ PAYS OFF FOR BERNIE MORENO IN BID TO REPLACE OHIO’S ROB PORTMAN
“This race was never about fulfilling a personal ambition but rather about serving the country that gave me every opportunity to succeed,” Moreno said. “Joe Biden is the result of socialist policies infiltrating our institutions, and the Senate is the stopgap to prevent Washington, D.C., from spiraling out of control.”
Moreno, who had help from former Trump White House senior counselor and campaign manager Kellyanne Conway, said he is planning to “return to the private sector” and will support whichever candidate Trump endorses.
Other GOP contenders to replace Sen. Rob Portman, who is retiring, include Josh Mandel, a former state treasurer, Jane Timken, the former chairwoman of the Ohio Republican Party, Sen. Matt Dolan, and J.D. Vance, author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. The primary is set for May. Rep. Tim Ryan is the front-runner on the Democratic side.
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Trump also released a statement thanking Moreno “for his time and effort,” adding that he was “impressed” with him.
Moreno “was tough on illegal immigration, which, after the Biden disaster at the Border, has become a big issue for all candidates,” Trump said. “He has done much for Ohio and loves his State and our great MAGA Movement. His decision will help ensure the MAGA Ticket wins BIG, as it is all over the Country. Thank you, Bernie, for your support, and keep fighting!”
