The Ohio U.S. Senate race is heating up as Republican candidate Bernie Moreno faces criticism for comments he made during a Warren County town hall regarding suburban women and their concerns about abortion.
In a video obtained by NBC4, Moreno suggested that many suburban women prioritize abortion rights as their main political issue, which he described as a little crazy especially for women over 50.
This remark has sparked backlash, with Katie Paris, founder of the suburban women’s advocacy group Red, Wine, and Blue, calling out Moreno for disrespecting the 57% of Ohioans who voted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution in 2023.
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Moreno clarified that his comments were meant as a joke and emphasized that Moreno believes women care about other critical issues, such as the economy, crime, and immigration.
Moreno, who won the Republican primary against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Ohio Sen.
Matt Dolan, will face off against Democratic incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown in November.
Brown, who supports abortion rights, accused Moreno of planning to impose a national abortion ban, positioning reproductive rights as a key battleground in the upcoming election.
The race is expected to be highly competitive, with a September poll showing Brown leading Moreno by a narrow margin, 45.6% to 44.2%, with 10% of voters still undecided.