Moreno defeats 3-term Sen. Brown in Ohio, giving the GOP a likely lead in the Senate

Republican Bernie Moreno has defeated Sen. Sherrod Brown, taking the seat from Democrats for 18 years and likely giving Republicans a majority in the Senate in 2025, Scripps News and Decision Desk HQ project.

The result in Ohio is a big boost for Republicans who are poised to hold the Senate for the first time in six years.

Including the four independents who caucus with Democrats, Democrats entered Tuesday with a 51-49 advantage in the Senate. With West Virginia already expected to go to Republican Gov. Jim Justice, all Republicans would likely have to do was flip an extra seat to gain a majority in 2025.

With Moreno’s victory, Republicans are poised to have at least 51 seats when the new Senate meets in January.

Before Tuesday, Ohio was arguably the most competitive Senate race in the nation, with polls showing a close race between Brown and Moreno.

Brown was first elected in 2006 and won re-election in 2012 and 2018. All three years were considered good years for Democrats, and as 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 external expenses are taken into account. Between graduate contributions and external expenses, $387.6 million has been spent. According to Open Secrets, the candidates have raised over $127 million in contributions, with Brown raising $89 million on his own.

But outside spending helped keep Moreno competitive. $68 million has been spent supporting Moreno, and over $112 million spent opposing Brown. Conversely, outside groups have spent over $22 million supporting Brown and nearly $77 million opposing Moreno.