Bernie Moreno, a Republican businessman supported by Trump, emerged victorious in Ohio’s Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. He is set to compete in the general election against Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). The Associated Press declared Moreno’s win in the Senate primary at 8:35 p.m. ET, with approximately 25 percent of the votes counted.

Moreno emerged victorious over State Sen. Matt Dolan (R-OH) and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) in the recent competition, signaling another win for the MAGA faction within the Republican Party against the GOP establishment. According to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, LaRose was initially leading in November, with Dolan following in second place and Moreno in third. However, Moreno experienced a surge towards the end of 2023 and secured the influential endorsement of former President Donald Trump on December 17, dealing a significant blow to his establishment rivals.

Despite Moreno taking the lead, Dolan made a comeback in the final weeks. This was further complicated by a negative piece published by the Associated Press against Moreno on March 13, creating uncertainty in the race’s final stretch. Former President Donald Trump’s appearance at a Buckeyes Values PAC rally in Dayton, Ohio, in support of Moreno on Saturday resulted in a substantial boost for the candidate, overshadowing Dolan, as indicated by polling data.

Following the rally, an Emerson College poll conducted on Sunday and Monday revealed Moreno holding a nearly double-digit lead over Dolan, with 38 percent to 29 percent. This represented a 15-point shift in support for Moreno compared to a previous Emerson College poll sponsored by Nexstar on March 13. With the backing of Trump, the endorsed candidate is now advancing to the general election against a vulnerable Brown, presenting one of the prime Senate seat acquisition opportunities for the Republican Party in 2024.