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Bernie Moreno

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Bernie Moreno, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 202531 sources
Bernardo Moreno
Born (1967-02-14) February 14, 1967 (age 59)
Bogotá, Colombia
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, politician
Years active1990s–present
Known forSenior United States senator from Ohio since 2025; entrepreneur in automobile dealerships and blockchain technology

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Bernardo Moreno (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born February 14, 1967) is a Colombian-born American entrepreneur and politician who has served since 2025 as the senior United States senator representing Ohio. He affiliates with the Republican Party.

Born in Colombia to a family that soon relocated to the United States, Moreno was raised in Florida. Following his studies at the University of Michigan, he embarked on a business career. In 2005, he relocated to Ohio where he managed multiple automobile dealerships primarily located in the Greater Cleveland area. Later in the late 2010s, he expanded into ventures involving blockchain technology. Initially, he entered the race for Senate in the 2022 cycle but withdrew before the Republican primary took place. In the 2024 contest, Moreno successfully unseated three-term incumbent Democratic senator Sherrod Brown. He assumed the role of Ohio's senior senator following the resignation of JD Vance who stepped down to become vice president of the United States.

Moreno holds the distinction of being Ohio’s first Hispanic American senator and is among the initial two Colombian American senators in U.S. history, alongside Arizona's Ruben Gallego.

Early life, family, and education

Born on February 14, 1967, in Bogotá, Colombia, Moreno's early years began overseas.[1][2] His father, Bernardo Moreno Mejía, was a medical doctor who also held senior governmental roles in Colombia. At age five, Moreno’s family emigrated to the United States, settling in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he grew up.[3] His father worked as a surgical assistant while his mother pursued a career in real estate. At eighteen years old, Moreno obtained U.S. citizenship.[4]

Moreno completed his undergraduate education at the University of Michigan, earning a degree in business administration.[5] After reports surfaced that his biography on the Cleveland Foundation website inaccurately stated he held a Master of Business Administration degree, his Senate campaign attributed this mistake to an error by a staff member.[6][7]

Early career

Moreno delivering a speech at the 2023 Turning Point Action Conference held in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Following his graduation, Moreno began his professional journey at General Motors.[8] At the age of 26, he relocated to Massachusetts[9] where he took on the role of general manager at The Herb Chambers Companies, overseeing a dealership for the General Motors brand Saturn.[10]

In 2005, Moreno moved to Ohio and acquired a Mercedes-Benz dealership located in North Olmsted, near Cleveland.[11][12][13] He served as president of the Collection Auto Group, a company operating multiple car dealerships.[14] By the year 2016, Moreno had expanded his ownership to include over twelve dealerships primarily situated within Ohio.[15] In 2019, he began divesting several of these dealerships to concentrate on Ownum, his emerging blockchain technology enterprise.[16]

In addition to his business ventures, Moreno founded the Sales Center for Excellence at Cleveland State University in 2018.[17] The following year, he was inducted into the Cleveland Business Hall of Fame as recognized by Cleveland Magazine.[18][19]

Moreno joined the board of trustees for the MetroHealth System in October of 2019 and remained until February 2021 when he stepped down to dedicate time toward pursuing public office.[20][21]

Prior to launching his U.S. Senate campaign in early 2023, Moreno resolved more than a dozen lawsuits related to wage theft. He was mandated to pay upwards of $400,000 to two former staff members and received judicial criticism for destroying documents that might have been pertinent to these cases.[22]

A report published in March 2024 revealed that Moreno had been involved in two separate lawsuits alleging discrimination based on gender and age. His campaign responded by stating that both plaintiffs were supporters of his Senate bid.[23]

2022

In April 2021, Moreno announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the Ohio U.S. Senate race, aiming to succeed the retiring Senator Rob Portman.[24] However, on February 3, 2022, Moreno withdrew from the contest, reportedly following a meeting with former President Donald Trump.[25]

2024

Moreno officially filed to enter the 2024 Ohio Senate race on April 10, 2023.[26] In December 2023, Donald Trump publicly endorsed Moreno’s candidacy.[27] On March 19, 2024, Moreno secured the Republican nomination by defeating competitors Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose.[28] Subsequently, he prevailed over incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown in the general election. Notably, during the general election campaign, over $40 million was contributed by the crypto sector to support Moreno's efforts.[29] Brown had been regarded as opposed to the interests of the cryptocurrency industry.[30]

In the lead-up to the March 2024 Republican primary, the Associated Press revealed that in 2008 an account on Adult FriendFinder had been created using Moreno’s email address. This profile sought "men for 1-on-1 sex" and included Moreno’s birthdate; geolocation data indicated it was registered for use in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood where property records show Moreno’s parents owned a residence at that time.[1] According to a statement from Moreno’s attorney provided to the Associated Press, a former intern admitted to creating the profile and described it as an "aborted prank".[31]

Moreno pictured alongside incoming Republican senators during a meeting with Sen. Mitch McConnell, November 2024

Tenure

Moreno officially assumed office as a junior U.S. senator on January 3, 2025, during the 119th United States Congress. Following JD Vance's resignation from the Senate on January 10 to prepare for his inauguration as Vice President of the United States on January 20, Moreno advanced to become Ohio's senior senator. In April, he successfully brokered an agreement with H.I.G. Capital to postpone the shutdown of the Chillicothe Paper Mill for an additional year.

Committee assignments

During the 119th Congress, Moreno holds membership on the following committees:

Political positions

Following the 2020 presidential election, Moreno condemned efforts to reject the official results but later in 2021 stated his belief that the election had been "stolen," reflecting views aligned with some Republican responses to Donald Trump's fraud allegations.

Moreno has identified energy policy as a key focus area. He advocates for continued utilization of coal, oil, and natural gas extracted domestically while supporting expansion of nuclear energy facilities. In earlier statements, he endorsed background checks for firearm purchasers; during a 2019 interview he questioned the necessity of guns capable of holding 100 rounds. When these comments resurfaced in 2024 inquiries were made to his campaign representatives who clarified that such views no longer represent his stance.

In 2023 discussions concerning reparations for slavery in the United States, Moreno proposed that compensation be extended to descendants of Union soldiers who perished in the American Civil War, framing this in relation to debates about reparations for descendants of enslaved individuals.

Abortion

Moreno stands firmly against abortion, identifying himself in a 2022 interview as "completely pro-life with no exceptions." In 2023, his campaign disclosed that he contributed $100,000 to the Protect Women Ohio Fund, which opposed Ohio's 2023 abortion-rights referendum. During a Republican primary debate in March 2024, Moreno indicated support for abortion exceptions in cases involving rape, incest, and threats to the mother's life. At the same event, he also advocated for access to contraception. However, he later opposed the Right to Contraception Act and stated that he would have sided with Senate Republicans to block the legislation. A spokesperson clarified that while Moreno "supports broad access to birth control for women," he rejects what they described as "far-left measures" included in the bill. Additionally, Moreno favors implementing a federal abortion ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

LGBT rights

Prior to launching his Senate bid, Moreno publicly supported the LGBT community, with his company sponsoring the 2014 Gay Games hosted by both Cleveland and Akron.

In a 2016 interview, Moreno acknowledged that the television show Modern Family played a significant role in shifting attitudes toward same-sex marriage, also mentioning that his oldest son identifies as gay.

However, during his 2024 Senate campaign, he criticized advocates for LGBT rights, accusing them of promoting what he described as a "radical agenda of indoctrination."

Immigration

Regarding immigration policy, Moreno supports constructing a barrier along the United States' Southern Border and endorses deploying military forces to secure the area. He has also advocated for labeling Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Additionally, Moreno has consistently called for ending birthright citizenship.

Back in 2016, he favored creating a legal pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, emphasizing the need to assist them in "coming out of the shadows." Nonetheless, his current stance favors deportation of undocumented individuals.

Foreign policy

Moreno has advocated for halting U.S. military assistance to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict. He has voiced his backing for Israel, stating that Israel must "eliminate Hamas — just as we eradicated ISIS." Following the 2023 Hamas-initiated assault on Israel, Moreno contended that Israel does not require further financial aid from the United States.

Donald Trump

In 2016, Moreno described Trump as a "madman taking over the Republican Party" and declared he could not endorse a party led by "that lunatic." In a tweet since removed, he compared Trump's actions—such as attacking immigrants, attempting to suppress the media, and appealing to humanity's darkest instincts—to those of Adolf Hitler, questioning his followers about whom he was referring to. Moreno also revealed he had cast a write-in vote for Marco Rubio during the 2016 presidential election. In a 2019 radio interview, he firmly stated there was no circumstance under which he would support Trump.

By 2024, however, Moreno had shifted to become a Trump supporter, securing Trump's endorsement for his Senate campaign and proudly declaring, "I wear with honor my endorsement from President Trump."

Personal life

Bernie Moreno resides in Westlake, Ohio, with his wife Bridget; together they have four grown children. Their daughter Emily is married to Congressman Max Miller. In August 2024, Miller initiated divorce proceedings.

Moreno's brother, Luis Alberto Moreno, formerly served as Colombia's Ambassador to the United States and currently holds a position on the World Economic Forum's board of trustees.

Electoral history

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See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Slodysko, Brian; Kessler, Aaron (March 14, 2024). "Trump-backed Senate candidate faces GOP worries that he could be linked to adult website profile". AP News.
  2. ↑ Pengelly, Martin (March 28, 2024). "Bernie Moreno says he fled socialism in Colombia for the US in 1971. What does history say?". The Guardian. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
  3. ↑ Segall, Grant (September 24, 2018). "Bernie Moreno sells Mercedes, charter flights, a voting app and more: My Cleveland". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  4. ↑ Tobias, Andrew J. (October 15, 2023). "Who is Bernie Moreno? Meet the Ohio car tycoon who could end up getting elected to the U.S. Senate". Cleveland.com. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Sigma Phi Epsilon hosts renowned auto dealer and entrepreneur Bernie Moreno – April 27". Today at Elon. April 23, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  6. ↑ Schladen, Marty (September 11, 2024). "Ohio US Senate candidate Bernie Moreno doesn't hold an MBA, but bio and application claimed he does". Ohio Capital Journal. States Newsroom. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Bernie Moreno did not earn an MBA from the University of Michigan: VERIFY with Stephanie Haney". wkyc.com. September 12, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  8. ↑ Allard, Sam (October 10, 2018). "The Furious Saga of Bernie Moreno, Car Dealer Turned Tech Evangelist". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  9. ↑ Jennings, Jean (May 22, 2014). "Super Gophers Bernie and Tom". Motor Trend.
  10. ↑ White, Carol (May 1, 2015). "Banking on a New Customer Experience". CBT News. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ Smith, Robert L. (December 24, 2014). "Super car dealer Bernie Moreno assumes leadership role in Hispanic community: 2015 People to Watch". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ White, Carol (May 1, 2015). "Banking on a New Customer Experience". CBT News. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Bernie Moreno makes attempt to go from GOP donor to Ohio senator". spectrumnews1.com. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  14. ↑ Schoenberger, Robert (December 24, 2011). "Luxury car sales booming at Bernie Moreno's Collection Auto Group: Talk with the Boss". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  15. ↑ LaReau, Jamie (March 20, 2017). "Bernie Moreno's unexpected U-turn". Automotive News. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ Bamforth, Emily (April 4, 2019). "Car mogul Bernie Moreno sells 7 franchises to focus on blockchain business". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Founder of the Center | Cleveland State University". business.csuohio.edu. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Cleveland Business Hall of Fame and Community Leader of the Year Awards". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Cleveland Business Hall of Fame Inductee Bernie Moreno". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  20. ↑ https://www.cleveland.com/open/2021/02/car-dealer-bernie-moreno-steps-down-from-metrohealth-board-as-he-eyes-possible-senate-run.html?outputType=amp
  21. ↑ Astolfi, Courtney (October 8, 2019). "Tech entrepreneur Bernie Moreno approved as MetroHealth trustee". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  22. ↑ Metzger, Bryan (January 19, 2024). "Trump-backed Ohio Senate candidate shredded documents as he faced a lawsuit accusing him of wage theft". Business Insider. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Businessman Bernie Moreno, Trump's Senate pick in Ohio, faced discrimination lawsuits, the AP finds". APNews.com. January 17, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  24. ↑ Eaton, Sabrina. "Car dealer and tech entrepreneur Bernie Moreno announces campaign for U.S. Senate in Ohio", Cleveland.com, April 6, 2021.
  25. ↑ Ward, Myah. "Republican Bernie Moreno drops out of crowded Ohio Senate primary", POLITICO, February 3, 2022.
  26. ↑ Gomez, Henry J. "Second Republican files paperwork to take on Sen. Sherrod Brown in Ohio", NBC News, April 10, 2023.
  27. ↑ Bender, Michael C. "Trump Endorses Bernie Moreno, Ex-Car Dealer, in Ohio Senate Race", The New York Times, December 19, 2023.
  28. ↑ Bowden, John. "Car salesman Bernie Moreno wins Ohio Senate primary with Trump's backing", The Independent, March 20, 2024.
  29. ↑ Khalili, Joel. "The SEC Is Abandoning Its Biggest Crypto Lawsuits", Wired, February 28, 2025.
  30. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :4
  31. ↑ Pengelly, Martin. "Ohio Republican candidate's ex-intern says adult site post was a 'prank'", The Guardian, March 15, 2024.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bernie Moreno.

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Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Ohio
(Class 1)
2024 		Most recent
Unrecognised parameter
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Ohio
2025–present
Served alongside: JD Vance, Jon Husted 		Incumbent
Preceded by Order of precedence of the United States
as United States Senator 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States senators by seniority
95th 		Succeeded by

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