U.S. Senate candidate Matt Dolan visits Ashland on campaign tour- here is what said

While preparing for the Ohio Republican primary debate with Republican candidates in U.S. Senate race, Matt Dolan made a campaign stop in Ashland to talk about the economy, the southern border and why he's the person who can beat Sherrod Brown.

Dolan, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno are running on the GOP ticket in Ohio's March 19 primary. One of them will run against Brown in November. The primary debate will be held 7-8 p.m. on Fox 8.

Dolan is serving his second term in the Ohio Senate where he represents portions of Cuyahoga County. Before his time in the Ohio Senate, Dolan served three terms as the 98th House District representative. He announced plans to run for U.S. Senate in early 2023. He previously ran for Rob Portman's U.S. Senate seat, which J.D. Vance won in a race against former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan.

When in Ashland, Dolan highlighted how he stands out over Brown, who is running for re-election on the Democratic ticket. Dolan said he is the only candidate who has political and private sector experience.

"I know both sides of the paycheck," he said. "I know what families are going through in Ohio. As an employer I know what the employees are going through," he said. "I know as employee what it feels like."

Dolan says he's the only Republican who can beat Sherrod Brown

Dolan said he has a legislative record of conservative achievements that has helped Ohio. He said he has cut taxes, reduced regulations and helped education/school choice.

"These are the things that I am the only one in the race has done," he said. "It also makes me unique because I'm the only one who can beat Sherrod Brown."

Dolan said Brown won 16 out of the 88 counties in his last election.

"Those are the more populous counties," Dolan said. "Same counties I do very well in. I out performed former President Trump by 11 points in Cuyahoga County. So that proves I can get conservatives voters and I can get the independent voters, which of course there are more independent voters than republican and democratic voters combined in Ohio. So they are going to decide [who will win]."

When asked how he stands out from Brown, Dolan replied, "There's Washington Sherrod Brown and there's Ohio Sherrod Brown. I'm going to make sure that Ohio people know that Washington Sherrod Brown. It's not a matter of years, it's what he's done in those years. He has put nothing forward but a very liberal agenda that is outside the step of every day Ohioans."

Dolan said Brown, who has held the Senate seat since 2007, has voted with President Joe Biden 98.5% of the time.

"Which means he's voting on issues of more debt for our nation [and] open borders. These are things that are happening under Sherrod Brown," Dolan said. "I have a record of achievement. I have a record of getting things done that have benefited Ohioans every day. Sherrod Brown cannot say that."

Dolan talks about inflation, southern border crisis

Dolan addressed inflation and what he has heard from Ohioans who are concerned about the economy.

"As I travel the state, people don't feel secure about their economic future," he said. "You talk to small businesses, they don't know if they should hire. They don't know if they should expand. I talk to individuals and they're worried if their job is solid. People do not believe in this economy."

Dolan acknowledged inflation isn't as high as it was, but said it is still high.

Dolan said he was in the area of the southern border recently and "talked to Border Patrol, I've talked to local sheriff's office, I brought local sheriffs down there so I can get law enforcement's eyes on it. It is a real significant problem that we are feeling in Ohio."

The border crisis impacts Ohio because of the increase in illegal drugs, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as human trafficking, Dolan said.

"That is the result of our open border," he said. "We must secure the border."

Dolan said from day one he would introduce legislation to build former President Trump's border wall.

"I wish we could gotten that into law," he said. "Build the wall where appropriate. Turn the technology back on that notifies Border Patrol on a much more timely basis. We will give border patrol legal and law enforcement authority."

Support for the Ukrainian and Israel wars

When speaking about continuing to provide funds for the Ukrainian War, Dolan said he would support helping the Ukrainians defend themselves against the Russian forces.

"I am the only one of three of us who supports [the aid to Ukraine]," Dolan said. "I do not support the way that Biden is [handling it]. We should have told the American people that the purpose of us being involved is to drive [Russian President] Putin and the Russian army back to a 2020 boundary line. And then we would have said to Ukraine, 'What kind ammunition and weaponry do you need?' Then we can report to the American people if it's working or not working."

Dolan said it is national security interest for the United States to keep Putin out of Ukraine.

"It is agricultural issue. It is an energy issue. It is a China issue. It is an Iran issue. So we need to be involved," he said.

Dolan said it was unfair for his opponents to say the United States is just sending a blank check to Ukraine, noting "60% of the money goes to American companies in 38 states to produce weaponry. The jobs being created are American. The weapons they are creating are going to America because we need up our defense industry. This has kickstarted that."

In regard to the Israeli–Palestinian war, Dolan said, "We owe Israel it's absolute right to defend itself. We are their closest ally in the Middle East. We need to be able to provide what they need to [win] that war."

It's not his place to tell other countries how to defend themselves, Dolan said in reference to Israel's bombing in the Gaza Strip.

"Do I understand why they [fight] this war like they are? Yes. Is it tragic? Yes. But Hamas needs to be defeated," he said.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Matt Dolan stops in Ashland to tout his strengths over Sherrod Brown