Senate Republicans and their allies are planning a massive TV ad buy in Ohio as they try to unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.
The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and its allied group American Crossroads, are booking nearly $83 million worth of air time this fall, according to plans shared first with POLITICO. This is the second state where the groups have reservations after Montana.
Ohio and Montana are the top two GOP targets on the Senate map in 2024. Three Republicans are in a heated March 19 primary to take on Brown: businessman Bernie Moreno, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
SLF will invest $57.5 million from Sept. 3 until Election Day. American Crossroads will spend $25 million from Sept. 17 to Oct. 21.
“Ohio was an important win for us in 2022 and we feel good about our prospects in 2024,” said Senate Leadership Fund President and CEO Steven Law. “Democrat Sherrod Brown has spent decades in DC pushing his liberal agenda while ignoring a growing conservative constituency back home. Now, these voters are ready to send Brown packing.”
The NRSC is staying neutral in the primary, and its leaders believe any of the three could take down Brown.
Moreno has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio). Moreno and Dolan can self-fund, and LaRose has a super PAC that went negative on Moreno this week.
The Club for Growth made its first spend in the race, dropping some $850,000 for Moreno, according to AdImpact. That spot touts his endorsement from Trump.
SLF’s Democratic counterpart, the Senate Majority PAC, laid down ad buys late last month in Nevada and Montana.
