Republican State Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) launched a statewide ad campaign on Tuesday in his bid for U.S. Senate against Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in 2024.
The 60-second digital advertisement is the first statewide ad buy in his bid for the U.S. Senate, targeting Brown and his “blind loyalty” to President Joe Biden.
Today we're announcing the first statewide ad buy for U.S. Senate in Ohio. We're taking the fight directly to Sherrod Brown for his blind loyalty to Joe Biden and the crisis they have created on our southern border. Sherrod Brown won't secure the border. I will. #OHSEN pic.twitter.com/tYRYwKkHnP
— Matt Dolan (@dolan4ohio) June 20, 2023
The ad campaign begins by stating that liberal Brown votes with President Biden 98 percent of the time and claims they have opened the borders together, created the worst violent crime in decades, and allowed fentanyl to pour into Ohio communities.
It then plays recordings of Senator Brown arguing that he doesn’t hear many complaints about illegal immigration.
“I don’t hear a lot about immigration from voters except from people on the far-right,” Brown said.
According to Dolan (pictured above), Brown is “dead wrong.”
“Sherrod Brown is dead wrong. From violent crime to sex trafficking and deadly fentanyl, open borders are a direct threat to Ohio families. As a former prosecutor, I locked up drug dealers and violent felons. In the state Senate I voted to designate the cartels as terrorist organizations. As your next U.S. Senator, I’ll get tough on illegal immigration and stop the Mexican drug cartels from killing our kids. Sherrod Brown isn’t willing to fight. But I am. We must secure our border now,” Dolan said.
Dolan was the first Republican to enter the race. He was a contender in the crowded Republican primary in 2022, alongside newcomer JD Vance (R-OH), who later won a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Dolan, who is considered a moderate, has represented districts in the Cleveland region and has been a state senator for Ohio since 2017. He previously served three terms in the Ohio House. On social issues, Dolan has been supportive of restrictions on abortions; however, he voted against the legislation that restricts the procedure at the first detectable fetal heartbeat. According to Dolan, he anticipated that it would result in an expensive and, at the time, seemingly hopeless federal court fight.
Following the horrific mass shooting in Dayton in 2019, Dolan also sponsored a set of firearm reforms by Republican Governor Mike DeWine, defying some who felt it violated their Second Amendment rights. The bill languished despite initial bipartisan support.
He was one of the 2022 candidates who did not incorporate the ideals of former President Donald Trump into his campaign. He had supported him twice, though, and in an interview early last year, he declared that he would do so again.
Dolan now hopes to challenge 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.
“We’re taking the fight directly to Sherrod Brown for his blind loyalty to Joe Biden and the crisis they have created on our southern border. Sherrod Brown won’t secure the border. I will,” Dolan said.
Retired Republican State Senator Jay Hottinger applauded Dolan on his ad campaign.
“Matt Dolan ups the ante with first statewide ad buy in his bid for the U.S. Senate. He is all in in getting Brown all out,” Hottinger said.
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.
At this point, there are only three Republican candidates who have formally joined the 2024 U.S. Senate race, Republican businessman Bernie Moreno, Dolan, and Inventor Joel Mutchler from Canal Fulton.
– – –
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 “Matt Dolan” by Matt Dolan.
