Sherrod Brown has served the citizens of Ohio with distinction in the United States Senate since 2007. First elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1975, where he served until 1983, Brown served as Ohio Secretary of State from 1983 to 1991 and then as a member of the United States House of Representative from 1993 to 2007.
This election season, Brown faces the most significant challenge of his long political career. His opponent, Bernie Moreno, is the handpicked choice of former president Donald J. Trump. A native of Bogota, Columbia, Moreno made his fortune in the auto industry, first selling GMC vehicles and now Mercedes Benz. He has never served in a political office.
Moreno’s assets are reported in the millions of dollars — including a multimillion-dollar home in the Bahamas and a million dollar-plus yacht to go with it.
Prior to launching his campaign for the Senate in 2023, Moreno settled over a dozen wage theft lawsuits. In those cases, he was accused of failing to pay proper overtime benefits to his workers and 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. A 2024 report found that Moreno faced two lawsuits alleging gender and age-based discrimination. However, the Moreno campaign responded by saying both employees were now supporting his Senate campaign.
Currently the United States Senate is made up of 49 Republicans, 47 Democrats and four Independents, who usually vote with the Democratic Caucus. That allows for the Democrats to have control of the Senate and in case of a tie vote, Vice President Kamala Harris can break the tie by casting a Democratic vote.
The bottom line is that Democrats cannot lose any seats in the Senate. Any loss will turn the control of the Senate over to the Republicans who currently control the House of Representative and the Supreme Court. If former president Trump were to prevail in November’s election, Republicans will control very branch of government.
Brown’s re-election is vital to Ohio and the nation.
Brown is well aware of the challenge he faces. When he first ran for statewide office at a time where our society was not so politicized, the last name Brown carried a lot more political clout in Ohio political circles, and Ohio was still a swing state. But no longer. Aside from the three Democrats who currently sit on the Ohio Supreme Court, Brown is the only statewide office holder who has a “D” in front of his name.
In previous elections Brown could rely on some votes in rural Ohio. But those were previous elections. He and his campaign staff know that they must look to urban centers with strong blocs of Democratic voters to carry him over the finish line and send him back to the Senate for six more years.
A loss by both Brown and Vice President Kamala Harris, almost certain to be the Democratic presidential candidate, would mean that Republicans and their draconian plans for the nation, exemplified in Project 2025, would be in the driver’s seat for our nation’s future and a probable end of democracy as we know it. Say good-bye to social service benefits and many Social Security benefits, along with the Department of Education; the National Weather Service; Headstart; women’s reproductive rights; numerous veteran’s benefits; and cuts from the federal government across the board. And to make matters even worth, the anointing of more justices to the United States Supreme Court who will make the current conservative bloc look like flaming liberals.
Florida Federal Judge Aileen Cannon who recently dismissed the charges against Trump in the mishandling of documents case will probably be moving up to the United States Supreme Court. Trump owes her that for saving his neck.
Ohioans in every part of the state must get out and vote. Democratic strongholds like Cleveland must come out strong for Brown to offset the Republican votes.
It is vital that everyone who is eligible to register to vote, register and vote. Absentee and early voting begins October 8. Absentee ballots should be promptly returned to the Board of Election. On Election Day, November 5, no matter what the weather, voters must go to the polls and mark their ballots. Concerned citizens must make sure that everyone in their family and extended family, neighborhood, church, workplace and social circle votes. Everyone who stays home and thinks that their vote doesn’t count is in effect, casting a vote for Bernie Moreno, Trump and the Republican party.
The choice in November is clear. Do you want to send an experienced senator who has a proven track record of caring for Ohio and its citizens, or do you want a multimillion dollar used car salesman with no experience in government who is a Trump sycophant?
Sherrod Brown MUST win in November. And he can only win if every Democrat and person who is concerned about democracy in America goes to the polls and casts a vote for him and encourages others to vote also. Cast your vote for Sherrod Brown for the United States Senate – it’s vital to saving democracy, Ohio and America.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she is a former member of the Board of the Ohio History Connection, and past president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table, and is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.
One Response to “Ohio and the Nation Need Sherrod Brown by C. Ellen Connally”
Penny Jeffrey JEFFREY
Moreno also is advocate for cryptocurrency. Senator Brown is a rarity in the Senate–he’s not a millionaire.