Bernie Moreno is the senior United States senator from Ohio, serving since 2025. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, he immigrated to the United States as a child, grew up in Florida, became a U.S. citizen at 18, and earned a business degree from the University of Michigan.
After early work in the auto industry, Moreno built a large Midwest dealership group based in Ohio, then pivoted into blockchain and technology ventures in the late 2010s. He entered Republican politics as a Trump aligned outsider candidate and rose quickly inside conservative activist networks.
In 2024, Moreno won the Republican primary and defeated Senator Sherrod Brown in the general election, flipping a marquee battleground seat. He was sworn in on January 3, 2025, and later became Ohio’s senior senator after JD Vance resigned to assume the vice presidency.
In the Senate, Moreno has emphasized border enforcement, reshoring and industrial policy, and a populist critique of “globalist” trade and regulatory regimes. He has also signaled interest in digital asset policy, pairing pro crypto messaging with calls for U.S. based strategic technology growth.
Right Wing Populist
Committee Assignments
Caucus Memberships
Achievements
- Won a high-profile statewide Senate race in 2024, defeating incumbent Sherrod Brown
- Built a major Ohio-based auto dealership footprint and expanded into technology and digital-asset ventures
- Became one of the first Colombian-American U.S. senators and the first Hispanic U.S. senator from Ohio
- Elevated quickly in national conservative circles as a Trump-aligned, outsider-style candidate
- Promoted “economic patriotism” themes focused on reshoring and U.S. supply-chain strategy
Controversies
- Faced lawsuits tied to dealership employment and wage disputes, including cases settled prior to his Senate campaign
- Drew scrutiny over shifts in rhetoric between earlier business interviews and later campaign-era positions on immigration and national politics
- Criticized by opponents for close alignment with Trump-era populist messaging and culture-war framing
- Faced political attacks over crypto-aligned support and fundraising networks during the 2024 campaign
- Received periodic local scrutiny around business practices and corporate affiliations in Ohio
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate Conservatives Fund | $254,803 | $244,803 | $10,000 |
| Club for Growth | $69,599 | $69,599 | $0 |
| Marshall Goldman Sales & Leasing | $52,800 | $52,800 | $0 |
| National Republican Senatorial Cmte | $52,800 | $0 | $52,800 |
| Goldman Sachs | $46,100 | $46,100 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2024 Margin R +3.6%