CLEVELAND — Republican Bernie Moreno, Donald Trump’s chosen candidate for Senate in Ohio, defeated state Sen. Matt Dolan on Tuesday night, sparing the former president an embarrassing defeat in a state he won handily in 2020.

Moreno, who will face incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown in the fall, led the Republican primary by more than 17 points with nearly 90% of the votes counted, defying expectations of a close race. He received 50% to Dolan’s 33%, with Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose placing a distant third.