4 must-see moments from GOP Senate primary debate

CLEVELAND (WJW) — The three frontrunners in the Republican primary contest for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat took the FOX 8 debate stage on Monday evening.

The candidates included Ohio’s Secretary of State Frank LaRose, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, the latter of whom is endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

The candidates waded into the issues that matter most to Ohio voters and took opportunity to verbally slug their opponents. Here are the highlights:

Watch: 3 Ohio Republican Senate candidates debate

On abortion as a federal issue

Ohioans recently enshrined reproductive rights — including access to abortion — in the state’s constitution, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of the federal abortion standard established Roe v. Wade, which put the issue of abortion to states.

All the Republican primary candidates said they would support a federal ban on abortion, and were asked to describe how that might look, if they were elected to Congress.

Moreno said he wouldn’t call it a ban — instead, “common-sense restrictions” after 15 weeks of gestation.

While campaigning against Ohio’s Issue 1 this past fall, Dolan said he appealed to undecided voters while LaRose instead prepared for his Senate race by meeting with Republican voters who had already decided against it.

On the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol

Candidates were asked how they view those charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots in the U.S. Capitol.

While LaRose called the riots “a flagrant disregard of the law,” both he and Moreno said they feel justice is being meted unevenly. Moreno claimed those charged with trespassing are being denied due process, and LaRose called for non-violent offenders to be released from jail.

Dolan, who made no allusions to a two-tiered system of justice, said trust and “making sure you’re going to follow through” are paramount to the public service job. He used the question as an opportunity to needle Moreno on discrimination claims from his former employees, which were settled out of court.

Moreno bit back.

“The reality is the judge is a Harvard elitist lunatic,” he said. “Compare my lawsuits to the number of lawsuits that the Cleveland Indians have had. Maybe your dad can explain to you how business works.”

On gender-affirming care

All the candidates voiced support for Ohio’s pending ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The bill — which Dolan supported — was vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine, but that veto was overridden in the House and the Senate is expected to also override, Dolan said Monday.

Moreno said it was stunning to see the bill vetoed by a Republican governor.

LaRose said DeWine “made a very bad decision.” He called gender-affirming care for minors “child abuse” and said the only way to keep girls’ sports fair and safe was to keep transgendered individuals from competing.

Dolan said gender-affirming care should not be a federal issue, as powers not enumerated in the U.S. Constitution are, by law, left to the states.

Vote now: Who won the Ohio GOP Senate debate?

On U.S. support for Israel

The candidates voiced support for Israel but have different views of the U.S.’ role in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

LaRose said “not another penny” should be spent on Ukraine until the U.S. has secured its southern border with Mexico.

Moreno has said Israel doesn’t need the U.S.’ help or funding — a view the Dolan campaign has called “isolationist.”

LaRose on the debate stage alleged Moreno has ties to a foundation that funded anti-Israeli groups.

“This guy will lie through his teeth to get political power. I have no idea what the heck he’s talking about,” Moreno rebutted.

“Frank, my granddaughter is Jewish. The fact that you would say something like that is disgusting. But it’s keeping with his brand. This guy will do anything to achieve political power. That’s exactly what’s wrong with Washington.”

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