Ohio Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose told The Ohio Star that he is actively considering running for U.S. Senate against Ohio Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in 2024.
“I’m giving it a lot of thought. No announcements yet,” LaRose told The Star.
According to LaRose it’s obvious that Ohioans want to replace Brown with someone that truly embodies their ideals.
“I am weighing it. I’m looking at it. Carefully considering it. It’s something that I think that to me it’s clear that Ohioans want to replace Sherrod Brown with someone who actually reflects their values,” LaRose told The Star.
LaRose assumed office as Ohio Secretary of State in 2019, and his current term ends in 2027. He was a Republican in the Ohio State Senate, representing District 27 from 2011 to 2018. LaRose earned his B.S. in Consumer Affairs and Business from Ohio State University in 2007. His professional experience includes working as a consulting firm’s business manager and project lead. He served in the United States Army from 1998 to 2007 and reached the rank of Sergeant First Class.
LaRose has shown support for legislation such as Senate Bill (SB) 71, known as the DATA Act, which aims to modernize and clarify the way Ohio defines and archives election records, as well as endorsed House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1, known as the Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment that seeks to require petition-based amendments to pass with 60 percent of the vote, instead of a simple majority.
According to Larose, it’s critical for his party to nominate a candidate who can definitively win against Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, who has previously declared his intention to run for office again in 2024. In the increasingly red state, his seat will be viewed as a prime Republican pickup opportunity.
“I think it’s crucial for my party to nominate someone who shares their beliefs and can win against a candidate like Sherrod Brown,” LaRose told The Star.
The Democratic party currently holds a narrow 51-49 majority in the upper chamber.
A primary target for the GOP in 2024 will be Brown’s seat, along with those held by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV.), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who is retiring.
LaRose will face at least one more primary challenger if he enters the Senate race. State Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) has already formally announced his candidacy.
Other potential GOP contenders include Bernie Moreno, a successful businessman who ran for office in 2022, state Attorney General Dave Yost, U.S. Representative Warren Davidson (R-OH-08), and Mark Kvamme, a venture capitalist with close ties to former Governor John Kasich. Three-time Senate candidate Josh Mandel has said he will not run.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Frank LaRose” by Frank LaRose.
