The Ohio Primary Election is just two weeks away and one of the biggest races is the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator.

Bernie Moreno, a Cleveland area car dealer and first-generation American, is endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

21 News spoke with Moreno Tuesday ahead of the March 19th election.

 

Trump's endorsement is undoubtedly helping Moreno appeal to Trump's supporters, but 21 News asked Moreno how he appeals to GOP supporters who are looking for a different path forward than Donald Trump. Moreno minced no words in his rejection of that sector of the Republican electorate, saying if they don't support Donald Trump, they shouldn't support him. 

"There are some establishment Republicans, some that might call it the swamp, that still want Nikki Haley and now are realizing that they can't win so what they're trying to do is elect two swamp creatures, Frank LaRose or Matt Dolan, to blunt President Trump's agenda in the Senate," Moreno said. "If you like Nikki Haley, you have two good choices in Frank LaRose and Matt Dolan."

Moreno's website says his number one issue is giving parents more of a say over their children's education. We asked Moreno how far he would take this position, for example even  if a parent objected to teaching about slavery or science. Moreno elaborated that the local school board, elected by local parents, ought to be the ones to make all decisions about education. 

"I'm going to advocate for to make certain that we get rid of the Department of Education by the end of our first year in office," Moreno said. "The parents ultimately should be in charge of what their kids are taught as a collective whole. WE HAVE TO HAVE A SCHOOL AND EDUCATORS THAT TEACH KIDS ALL OF THE POINTS OF VIEW, NOT JUST A VERY RADICAL LEFT-WING POINT OF VIEW, WHICH IS THE PROBLEM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW," Moreno said.

Moreno's campaign website also says he wants to end socialism in America, so we asked him what specific programs he would cut. Given the examples of social security, Medicare and corporate subsidies, Moreno instead pivoted to incentives for the EV and solar and wind industries as things he considers socialist and would stop. 

"My job IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTION, WE HAVE SEPARATION OF POWERS BETWEEN THE BRANCHES BUT ALSO SEPARATION OF POWERS BETWEEN WHAT THE STATE DOES AND WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES," Moreno SAID.

21 News pointed out an ad by Moreno's campaign that calls out rival Frank LaRose for having said that rounding up and deporting millions of immigrants would not be logistically possible and asked him if that is what he supports and if so, how he would pay for it. Moreno said a deportation force would need to be set up and funded by redirecting money that currently is used to house and feed undocumented immigrants. 

"Why are we rewarding people who skip the line and violate our laws?" Moreno told 21 News. "This is insane. It has to end. The way we end it by making certain we don't have amnesty. We are going to create the largest deportation in modern American history. Anybody who is in the country illegally will be and must be deported. It's the only way we send a clear signal to the world. We want immigrants to come to this country. We do want immigrants to come to this country, otherwise, this would be a very awkward Zoom from a different country, OK? I came here legally, but we cannot allow or tolerate anyone who broke our laws and they will be deported."