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Bernie Moreno

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Bernie Moreno
Moreno in 2023
United States Senator-elect
from Ohio
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingSherrod Brown
Personal details
Born
Bernardo Moreno

February 1967 (age 57)
Bogotá, Colombia
Political partyRepublican
SpouseBridget Moreno
Children4
Relatives
EducationUniversity of Michigan (BBA)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businessman
WebsiteCampaign website

Bernardo Moreno (born February 1967)[1] is an American politician and businessman who is a United States Senator-elect for Ohio.

He was the Republican nominee in the 2024 United States Senate election in Ohio, defeating Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. He will be one of the first two Colombian American U.S. Senators, along with Ruben Gallego of Arizona.

Once he assumes office, Moreno will become Ohio's senior senator[citation needed], following the elevation of JD Vance to the vice presidency.

Early life, family, and education

Moreno was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His father, Bernardo Moreno Mejía (1928–2013), was a physician and held high-ranking positions in the Colombian government. When Moreno was five, the family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he was raised.[2] His father worked as a surgical assistant, and his mother was a real estate agent. Moreno became a U.S. citizen at age 18.[3]

Moreno attended the University of Michigan, graduating with a bachelor's degree in business administration.[4] After it was publicized that his Cleveland Foundation boardmember bio falsely said that he also had a Master of Business Administration degree, his Senate campaign blamed the error on "a staffer who made a mistake".[5][6]

Early career

After college, Moreno worked at General Motors.[7] At 26, he moved to Boston[8] to become the general manager at The Herb Chambers Companies, a car dealership for the General Motors division Saturn.[9]

He relocated to Ohio in 2005 and bought a Mercedes-Benz dealership in North Olmsted near Cleveland.[10][11][12] Moreno was the president of the Collection Auto Group, a car dealership company.[13] In 2019, he began to sell a number of his dealerships to focus on his new blockchain-based technology company, Ownum.[14]

In 2018, Moreno established the Sales Center for Excellence at Cleveland State University.[15] In 2019, Moreno was elected to the Cleveland Business Hall of Fame[16] in Cleveland Magazine.[17]

Moreno was appointed to the board of trustees for the MetroHealth System in October 2019.[18]

In 2023, Moreno settled over a dozen wage theft lawsuits prior to launching his U.S. Senate campaign. He was ordered to pay over $400,000 to two former employees. He was rebuked by a state judge for shredding documents potentially related to the case.[19]

A March 2024 report found that Moreno had faced two lawsuits alleging gender and age-based discrimination; Moreno's campaign responded by saying both employees who sued him supported his Senate campaign.[20]

U.S. Senate

2024 election

In April 2021, Moreno entered the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to replace the retiring incumbent Rob Portman.[21] On February 3, 2022, Moreno dropped out of the race, reportedly after meeting with former President Donald Trump.[22]

On April 10, 2023, Moreno filed paperwork to run for Ohio's Class I seat in the U.S. Senate up for election in 2024.[23] Donald Trump endorsed Moreno in December 2023.[24] Moreno won the Republican primary on March 19, 2024, defeating Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose.[25]

In the run-up to the Republican primary in March 2024, an Associated Press report found that an account on adult website Adult FriendFinder had been created by someone with access to Moreno's email, soliciting "men for 1-on-1 sex". Beyond the work email, the profile listed Moreno's correct date of birth, while geolocation data indicated that the account was set up for use in a part of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where property records show Moreno’s parents owned a home at the time.[1] In a statement provided to the Associated Press by Moreno's lawyer, a former intern said he wrote the post and described it as an "aborted prank".[26]

Tenure

Moreno will be sworn in on January 3, 2025 as a member of the 119th United States Congress.

Political positions

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Movements
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Abortion

Moreno opposes abortion, describing himself in a 2022 interview as "Absolute pro-life. No exceptions."[27] In 2023, Moreno's campaign revealed that he had personally donated $100,000 to Protect Women Ohio Fund, the campaign against Ohio's 2023 abortion-rights referendum.[28] At a March 2024 Republican primary debate, he voiced support for exceptions for rape, incest and when the woman's life is in danger.[29] At that debate, he also expressed support for access to contraception.[30][31] He later expressed opposition to the Right to Contraception Act and said that he would have voted with U.S. Senate Republicans to block the bill. A spokesman said Moreno "supports comprehensive access to birth control for women but not the far-left gimmicks in this bill."[32] He supports a federal 15-week ban on abortions.[33]

LGBT rights

Before his Senate campaign, Moreno expressed his support for the LGBT community, with his business sponsoring the hosting of the 2014 Gay Games by Cleveland and Akron. In a 2016 interview, Moreno credited the TV series Modern Family as having changed perceptions on same-sex marriage, noting that his eldest son is gay.

During his 2024 Senate run, he accused supporters of LGBT rights of "advancing a radical agenda of indoctrination".[34]

Energy

Moreno has said energy is a top priority, expressing support for using coal, and oil, extracting natural gas, as well as building more nuclear plants.[35]

Immigration

On immigration, Moreno has expressed support for building a wall on the United States Southern Border, deploying military personnel on the border, and designating Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Moreno has also repeatedly called for an end to birthright citizenship.[36][37] In 2016, he expressed support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, saying "we need to help them come out of the shadows",[38] but now supports deporting them.[39]

Foreign policy

Moreno has called for an end to U.S. support for Ukraine in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. He has expressed support for Israel and has said Israel needs to "end Hamas — end it like we ended ISIS." After the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Moreno argued Israel does not need any additional funding from the United States.[40]

Donald Trump

Moreno in 2016 described Trump as a "lunatic invading [the Republican Party]" and said he could not support a Republican Party led by "that maniac".[41] He wrote in a tweet that he had written in a vote for Marco Rubio in the 2016 presidential election.[42] During a 2019 radio interview, Moreno said, "there's no scenario in which I would support Trump." In 2024, he said, "I wear with honor my endorsement from President Trump."[43]

Other positions

After the 2020 presidential election, Moreno criticized those denying the results of the election, but in 2021 expressed his belief that the election had been "stolen".[42]

Moreno previously expressed support for background checks for gun owners and in a 2019 interview said "What gun do you need with 100 bullets in it?" When asked about these remarks, a spokesperson for his campaign said in 2024 it was "unequivocally" not his position today.[39]

In 2023, Moreno said that reparations should be paid to the descendants of Civil War soldiers who helped to free slaves.[44]

Personal life

Moreno and his wife, Bridget, live in Westlake, Ohio, as of 2024. The couple has four adult children.[45] His daughter Emily is married to congressman Max Miller.[46] In August 2024, Miller filed for divorce.[47]

His brother, Luis Alberto Moreno, is a former Colombian Ambassador to the United States and is currently a member of the board of trustees at the World Economic Forum.[48]

References

  1. ^ a b Slodysko, Brian; Kessler, Aaron (March 14, 2024). "Trump-backed Senate candidate faces GOP worries that he could be linked to adult website profile". AP News.
  2. ^ Segall, Grant (September 24, 2018). "Bernie Moreno sells Mercedes, charter flights, a voting app and more: My Cleveland". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Tobias, Andrew J. (October 15, 2023). "Who is Bernie Moreno? Meet the Ohio car tycoon who could end up getting elected to the U.S. Senate". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "Sigma Phi Epsilon hosts renowned auto dealer and entrepreneur Bernie Moreno – April 27". Today at Elon. April 23, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Schladen, Marty (September 11, 2024). "Ohio US Senate candidate Bernie Moreno doesn't hold an MBA, but bio and application claimed he does". Ohio Capital Journal. States Newsroom. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  6. ^ https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/verify/bernie-moreno-mba-university-of-michigan-verify-ohio-senate-race/95-dc0fdd80-dde1-4066-919f-9172685bf07d
  7. ^ Allard, Sam (October 10, 2018). "The Furious Saga of Bernie Moreno, Car Dealer Turned Tech Evangelist". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Jennings, Jean (May 22, 2014). "Super Gophers Bernie and Tom". Motor Trend.
  9. ^ White, Carol (May 1, 2015). "Banking on a New Customer Experience". CBT News. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Smith, Robert L. (December 24, 2014). "Super car dealer Bernie Moreno assumes leadership role in Hispanic community: 2015 People to Watch". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  11. ^ White, Carol (May 1, 2015). "Banking on a New Customer Experience". CBT News. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  12. ^ "Bernie Moreno makes attempt to go from GOP donor to Ohio senator". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Schoenberger, Robert (December 24, 2011). "Luxury car sales booming at Bernie Moreno's Collection Auto Group: Talk with the Boss". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  14. ^ Bamforth, Emily (April 4, 2019). "Car mogul Bernie Moreno sells 7 franchises to focus on blockchain business". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Founder of the Center | Cleveland State University". business.csuohio.edu. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Cleveland Business Hall of Fame and Community Leader of the Year Awards". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  17. ^ "Cleveland Business Hall of Fame Inductee Bernie Moreno". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  18. ^ Astolfi, Courtney (October 8, 2019). "Tech entrepreneur Bernie Moreno approved as MetroHealth trustee". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Metzger, Bryan (January 19, 2024). "Trump-backed Ohio Senate candidate shredded documents as he faced a lawsuit accusing him of wage theft". Business Insider. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "Businessman Bernie Moreno, Trump's Senate pick in Ohio, faced discrimination lawsuits, the AP finds". APNews.com. January 17, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  21. ^ Eaton, Sabrina (April 6, 2021). "Car dealer and tech entrepreneur Bernie Moreno announces campaign for U.S. Senate in Ohio". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  22. ^ Ward, Myah (February 3, 2022). "Republican Bernie Moreno drops out of crowded Ohio Senate primary". POLITICO. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  23. ^ Gomez, Henry J. (April 10, 2023). "Second Republican files paperwork to take on Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio". NBC News. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  24. ^ Bender, Michael C. Bender (December 19, 2023). "Trump Endorses Bernie Moreno, Ex-Car Dealer, in Ohio Senate Race". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  25. ^ Bowden, John (March 20, 2024). "Car salesman Bernie Moreno wins Ohio Senate primary with Trump's backing". The Independent. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  26. ^ Pengelly, Martin (March 15, 2024). "Ohio Republican candidate's ex-intern says adult site post was a 'prank'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  27. ^ Valentine, Jesse (March 7, 2024). "Ohio senate candidate Bernie Moreno: "Absolute pro-life no exceptions."". American Journal News. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  28. ^ Zuckerman, Jake (July 31, 2023). "In Ohio GOP U.S. Senate Race, Frank LaRose asks his rivals for $1 million each to back State Issue 1". cleveland. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  29. ^ "Ohio GOP Senate candidates pitch federal abortion bans even after voters protected reproductive rights". NBC News. February 23, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024. And while Dolan and Moreno both say they support exceptions in cases of rape, incest and when the mother's life is in jeopardy, LaRose, who brags that his anti-abortion record 'is not something I run away from,' is tougher to pin down.
  30. ^ Sanderson, Emily (March 18, 2024). "Key moments from the final Ohio Republican Senate debate before primary". WLWT. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  31. ^ Patel, Olivia; Stumbaugh, Taylor (March 7, 2024). "Ohio U.S. senator candidates debate abortion, Trump and more at Miami". The Miami Student. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  32. ^ Wilkinson, Howard (June 13, 2024). "Analysis: Reproductive rights, settled by Ohioans last fall, is a key issue in Senate race". WVXU. NPR Network. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  33. ^ Gomez, Henry J. (February 23, 2024). "Ohio GOP Senate candidates pitch federal abortion bans even after voters protected reproductive rights". NBC News. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  34. ^ "Trump-backed Senate candidate faces GOP worries that he could be linked to adult website profile". Associated Press News. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  35. ^ Andrew Miller, Paul Steinhauser (March 19, 2024). "Trump's endorsements hailed as 'most powerful...in modern political history' after victories in OH, IL, CA". Fox News. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  36. ^ Shaw, Adam; Murray, Andrew (January 27, 2022). "Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno wins endorsement from Border Patrol union". Fox News. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  37. ^ Evans, Nick (November 27, 2023). "'Send me reinforcements': U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance urges central Ohio Republicans to back Bernie Moreno". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  38. ^ Robbins, Jeremy (August 11, 2016). "Immigrant Auto Dealership CEO Wants a Merit-Based Immigration System". New American Economy. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  39. ^ a b Bemiller, Haley. "Who is Bernie Moreno? Republican taking on Sen. Sherrod Brown this fall". Cincinnati.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  40. ^ Evans, Nick (October 16, 2023). "Ohio's Republican U.S. Senate candidates clash over foreign policy in first forum • Ohio Capital Journal". Ohio Capital Journal. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  41. ^ Gomez, Henry J. (April 13, 2021). "Ohio Republican Senate candidate running as a Trump ally once called him a 'maniac'". NBC News. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  42. ^ a b Kaczynski, Andrew; Steck, Em (February 2, 2024). "Trump-backed OH Senate candidate blamed him for Jan 6th in deleted posts, tied Trump's popularity to "ignorance" | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  43. ^ "Ohio Senate GOP primary: Trump-backed Bernie Moreno touts America First populism". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  44. ^ Bemiller, Haley (April 24, 2023). "Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno suggests reparations for descendants of Union soldiers". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  45. ^ "Three Republicans on Ohio's primary ballot battle to face U.S. Sen. Brown in November". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  46. ^ Eaton, Sabrina (June 24, 2021). "GOP congressional candidate Max Miller is engaged to Emily Moreno, daughter of U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  47. ^ Pelzer, Jeremy; Daprile, Lucas (August 29, 2024). "Ohio Congressman Max Miller, ex-Cuyahoga GOP Chair Emily Moreno Miller file for divorce". cleveland.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  48. ^ Smyth, Julie; Goodman, Joshua (July 28, 2024). "Senate candidate Bernie Moreno campaigns as an outsider. His wealthy family is politically connected". The Hill. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
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