CINCINNATI — Donald Trump is once again intervening in a crowded Senate primary here to boost a MAGA candidate. But this time, the establishment thinks it can stop him.
For Moreno and Trump, it’s an assertion of the MAGA movement’s continued growth into the mainstream of the party. They’re embracing the war with the establishment. That’s left the race a toss-up, according to recent polling, with Dolan seeking to consolidate the rest of the electorate while Moreno and LaRose fight for Trump loyalists. Dolan and his allies emphasize an electability argument: He is the strongest candidate to take on Brown, a prolific fundraiser and battle-tested campaigner.
The dueling visions for the future of the party were on full display during the closing days of the race. Moreno held a rally with Trump, Vance and a roster of prominent MAGA personalities. Dolan campaigned with Portman and spent election eve with DeWine, rallying supporters at a restaurant in Columbus’ German Village, where they stressed Dolan’s appeal with swing voters and his commitment to passing legislation over accruing cable TV hits.
But when Portman retired in 2022, he was replaced by Vance after a vicious GOP primary that included Dolan. Vance’s victory signaled momentum for the MAGA movement and a populist turn in the Ohio GOP.“Gov. DeWine’s a proven vote-getter in the state,” said Alex Triantafilou, Ohio’s GOP chair. “He’s won election after election. And Rob Portman won by 20 percentage points running for Senate. And JD Vance won. So there’s room in the party for all different views.
A person close to Moreno’s campaign denied that he had sought Portman’s backing, and LaRose declined to say whether he had done so. Portman declined to comment on private conversations.