Ohio Voter Guide: United States Senate

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, was first elected in 2006, unseating then-Sen. Mike DeWine in a wave year for Democrats across the country. Brown was re-elected in 2012 and 2018, but this year is different. For the first time in his career, Brown is on the ballot on the same day as former President Donald Trump, who won Ohio easily in 2016 and 2020.

Brown faces Trump-endorsed Republican businessman Bernie Moreno in one of the most watched and expensive races in the country that could decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.

Libertarian candidate Don Kissick is also on the ballot.

Sherrod Brown (D)

Sherrod Brown, 71, was born and raised in Mansfield.

Before being elected to the US Senate in 2006, Brown served in Congress, as the Ohio Secretary of State, and in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Brown lives in Cleveland with his wife Connie Schultz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author. They have three daughters, one son, eight grandchildren and their rescue dogs, Franklin and Walter.

Problem:

Want to lower the cost of prescription drugs for our seniors and increase transparency in the supply chain for prescription drugs. Helped pass legislation to lower drug costs for Ohioans on Medicare and cap the price of insulin at $35 per month.
Protected the pensions of over 100,000 Ohioans through the Butch Lewis Act. Now he’s fighting to restore benefits for more than 5,000 Delphi salaried retirees.
Sponsor the FEND Off Fentanyl Act to support law enforcement in Ohio by targeting the illegal fentanyl supply chain – from the chemical suppliers in China to the cartels that trade the drugs in Mexico.
Introduced and helped pass the INTERDICT Act, signed into law under President Trump, to provide Border Patrol agents with the latest technology to detect opioids before law enforcement officials are exposed or opioids can enter Ohio communities.
Says presidents from both parties have failed to secure our southern border and have worked with Republicans and Democrats in Washington to strengthen the border, provide additional resources to border agents and stop dangerous fentanyl from entering the country. Supported the bipartisan border security bill, which was supported by Border Patrol agents.
Wants to raise the minimum wage and has introduced legislation to make sure workers get the advance information and training they deserve when companies adopt new technologies that will affect their jobs.

Bernie Moreno (R)

Moreno, 57, was born in Bogota, Colombia. At the age of five, his family moved to the United States. He became an American citizen at the age of 18.

Moreno bought his first car dealership in 2005. In 2018, he co-founded ChampTitles, which eliminates the need for states to issue paper titles. Moreno served as chairman of the board and recently sold his entire stake in the company and is no longer chairman.

He has not held elected office before.

Bernie lives in Westlake, Ohio with his wife Bridget and has four grown children.

Problem:

Give parents the opportunity to make educational choices
Secure America’s borders, stop amnesty and destroy the Mexican drug cartels
Restore the integrity of our elections
Sharply reduce anti-growth regulations, reduce public spending and stop inflation
Beat Communist China
Support our greatest ally, Israel, and fight to end all forms of anti-Semitism in the United States, especially on our college campuses
Hold Big Tech accountable and break up big media
Protect mothers, protect families and protect life by supporting a ban on late-term abortions
Empower local law enforcement to ensure safe communities
Vigorously defend our constitutional rights, especially the Second Amendment
Restore American energy independence
Let free markets work
Enact term limits for members of Congress
Restoring American manufacturing
End vigilance and suspend culture
End Socialism in America

Don Kissick (L)

Kissick moved to Ohio in 2007 with his first wife, Marcy who died of cancer. Kissick, who is an auto worker, joined the Libertarian Party and lives with his second wife, Sarah, in Ottawa with son Jeremiah and stepdaughter Cameron.

According to his official website, he served a six-year enlistment in the United States Navy, during which he deployed twice to the Middle East (including Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm).

Problem:

The national debt – it’s 21 trillion dollars… Why isn’t anyone talking about this anymore? The primary way to reduce it is simple. Cut. Expenditure. Now.
No more 1,000+ pages of legislation – Since his first day in office, President Trump has vetoed exactly zero spending bills. We need to start electing US representatives who will stop sending wasteful legislation to his desk. We need to get America back on track.
The tax reform – I want to see all taxes reduced and the tax legislation dramatically simplified – preferably to a standard tax rate. After that, the federal government should begin the transition to a fair tax. Between now and the time that goal is reached, a tax cut that is realistic for fast is the push to lower federal taxes on diesel fuel. This will offer both immediate and long-term benefits to the economy.
Civil liberties are under constant attack in our society. I will fight tirelessly to turn the tide of this problem. In connection with that…
Reform of criminal justice matters – Repeal the Clinton Crime Bill of 1994. End program 1033 of the National Defense Authorization Act. Repeal the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. End all federal incentives for civil asset forfeiture. Reform how qualified immunity is applied. Legalize cannabis.
Foreign policy – I am a non-interventionist. Our ongoing role as world police is unsustainable. See plank 1 for more on why.
Preserve the Second Amendment and its protection of the right to keep and bear arms will always be a priority for me.
Immigration reform – It is far too difficult to enter our country. Additionally, the effort to “build the wall” is creating nightmare situations along the border for property owners as well as for-profits and non-profits through abuse of eminent domain, the Fourth Amendment, and (incredibly) the Third Amendment.
Corporate subsidies and bailouts is a colossal waste of taxpayers’ money and does nothing but cruelly distort market conditions – in every industry where they are received – by keeping companies afloat that would otherwise rightfully fail but for their political connections.
End all foreign aid – Speaking of huge waste of taxpayers’ money creating unnecessary distortions…