Republican Bernie Moreno has defeated Sen. Sherrod Brown, taking the seat held by the Democrats for 18 years and giving Republicans a majority in the Senate come 2025, Scripps News and Decision Desk HQ project.
The result in Ohio is a major boost to Republicans who are poised to hold the Senate for the first time in four years. Nearly an hour after the Ohio projection, Scripps News and Decision Desk HQ projected Sen. Deb Fischer would retain her seat in Nebraska, giving Republicans a minimum of 51 seats come 2025. Republicans also flipped a seat in Montana.
When factoring in the four independents who caucus with Democrats, Democrats entered Tuesday with a 51-49 edge in the Senate. With West Virginia already being projected to go to Republican Gov. Jim Justice, all Republicans likely needed to do was flip one additional seat to gain a majority come 2025.
Entering Tuesday, Ohio was arguably the most competitive Senate race in the nation with polling showing a tight race between Brown and Moreno.
Brown was first elected in 2006 and won reelection in 2012 and 2018. All three years were considered good years for Democrats, and being a moderate in a relatively red state, Brown has managed to stay in the Senate for 18 years.
But Brown was more vulnerable than ever.
The race is the most expensive in the country when factoring outside spending. Between contributions for candidates and outside spending, there has been $387.6 million spent. According to Open Secrets, the candidates have garnered over $127 million in contributions, with Brown raising $89 million on his own.
But outside spending helped keep Moreno competitive. There has been $68 million being spent to support Moreno, and over $112 million spent to oppose Brown. Conversely, outside groups have spent over $22 million to support Brown and nearly $77 million to oppose Moreno.
Brown conceded the race shortly before midnight Eastern on Tuesday.
"This is a disappointment but is not a failure," Brown told supporters.
Moreno was already alluding to a potential Trump administration in his victory speech. Moreno was endorsed by Trump.
"This is a new dawn of Republican leadership with President Trump and JD Vance in the White House. We are going to advance an agenda that is an American agenda," Moreno told his backers.
