Bernie Moreno is making sure Frank LaRose’s Issue 1 failure won’t go away

During an interview on the “The Brandon Boxer Show”, Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno accused Frank LaRose using Issue 1’s failure to promote himself and pocketed the money he raised to fuel his Senate campaign.

Issue 1 was the Ohio GOP’s failed attempt to circumvent the will of voters by eliminating majority rule and potentially blocking a future reproductive rights ballot initiative. Ohioans voted down the measure with 57% (1.7 million votes) against it to 43% (1.3 million votes) for it during a special election earlier this month.

Ohio Secretary of State LaRose made himself the face of the initiative in the name of denying access to abortion, risking a Hatch Act violation. Even though the Republicans were united in their support for Issue 1, the U.S. Senate candidates are using its failure to bash LaRose as Issue 1 is the first major blow to his Senate campaign.

“Well, you know, it’s just kind of pathetic that Frank’s trying to use the loss and Issue One where a lot of conservatives put their blood, sweat and tears and really use it to advance his Senate campaign,” Moreno said on Boxer’s show Tuesday. “The reality is, Boxer, that Frank went out and raised money into a super PAC for six or seven months of super PAC, that he completely controlled the money. He allegedly raised over a million dollars, ironically, from mostly out-of-state people and didn’t direct one cent of that money to Issue One.”

Others have raised concerns about LaRose violating federal law with the money from Issue 1. Issue 1 will likely be a topic brought up by Moreno and fellow candidate Matt Dolan for the rest of the campaign, as LaRose vigorously advocated for its passage for several months.

“You know, this was all about his Senate race is all building his name ID,” Moreno continued. “This is what career politicians do. They’re always putting themselves above the greater cause. And that’s why D.C. is failing.”

LaRose has served as Ohio’s secretary of state since 2018, and he announced his U.S. Senate campaign just months after winning a second term last November.