Ohio’s Bernie Moreno Joins Senate Leadership Team

Last week, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, joined the leadership team of Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., where he will serve as a deputy. This move is rather significant, especially for a senator who just took office in January and could signal more opportunities to come.

When reached for comment, Barrasso and Moreno’s offices directed The Daily Signal to a press release in which the majority whip highlighted Moreno’s accomplishments.

“Bernie has already proven to be a strong, effective deputy whip. During our marathon of votes, he worked nonstop for 27 hours to keep our Conference united and ultimately secured passage of our Republican agenda. In his short time in the Senate, he’s become an integral member of the team,” said Barrasso. “His focus on helping working families, deep knowledge of business, and commitment to commonsense have led to big wins for America—such as ending the Biden electric vehicle mandate. I’m glad to fight for a safer, more prosperous America alongside my friend Bernie.”

“Senator Barrasso is a consistent, conservative leader driving our conference as we work to deliver on President [Donald] Trump’s agenda of economic growth, closing the border, and putting American workers first,” Moreno said. “I’m thrilled to join the team as a Deputy Whip and to help our conference continue to deliver on our promises.”

When it comes to that “Republican agenda,” the mega-bill known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed earlier this month in the Senate and the House, with Trump signing it into law at his self-imposed July 4 deadline. The vote-a-rama lasted 27 hours before it passed the Senate.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who announced he would not seek reelection and whom Moreno replaced as deputy, voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Semafor, in reporting on Moreno joining the GOP leadership team, discussed the role Moreno played:

Moreno’s elevation comes shortly after the freshman Republican helped shape last week’s party-line tax and health care law, specifically pushing Republicans to more quickly phase out electric vehicle subsidies and narrow auto loan interest deductions to new cars assembled in the US.

He also sought to temper the GOP from pushing for even heavier Medicaid cuts than they pursued in the bill.

Moreno has continued to promote the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as have other Republicans and members of the Trump administration. Both his and the Team Moreno X accounts continue to highlight how the senator has been promoting the reconciliation bill and how it will benefit Ohioans.

As 10TV News highlighted, Moreno made an appearance at the Nutcracker Family Restaurant in Pataskala. The senator wasn’t the only one featured in the piece, as everyday Ohioans who will benefit from the bill were also profiled.

“Millions of U.S. workers are now reaping the benefits of part of President Donald Trump’s budget bill. The no tax on tips and overtime provisions are now in effect,” the piece began. Kelley Metzger, who has worked at the restaurant for 10 years, is referenced, as are the owners.

“Working-class Americans have been taking it in the gut for decades, certainly the last four years with inflation, the price of everything,” Moreno is quoted as saying.

The Ohio Republican Party on X also put out a thread featuring many of Moreno’s accomplishments.

It described Moreno’s status as an immigrant who came here legally from Colombia, as well as how “Bernie [is] bringing Ohio’s fighting spirit to D.C. and going to work to deliver real change.” As senator-elect and now senator, Moreno has spoken about partnering with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, immigration enforcement, the importance of “America First,” protecting the jobs of paper mill factory workers, and, of course, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Although Moreno is the senior senator for Ohio, it’s only by a few days. He took office on Jan. 3, while Republican Sen. Jon Husted, formerly the lieutenant governor, replaced Vance later that same month.

Moreno’s status, as well as his having a seat in the Senate at all, is even more impressive considering the path it took for him to get here. He briefly ran in 2022, in a crowded primary won by Vance. The 2024 primary was almost as crowded. Polls started off showing Moreno with poor name recognition, who didn’t exactly have a winning chance against now former Sen. Sherrod Brown. As the March primary got closer, Moreno’s chances improved, though polls still showed a close race with state Sen. Matt Dolan.

According to the RealClearPolling average, Moreno had a +2.0 point lead. He won by +17.6 points.

Moreno then faced Brown in the general election, no easy feat considering he was going up against an incumbent.

Ohio has become increasingly red, though, and the election was a test to see just how solidified that status is. Trump won the state in 2016, 2020, and would also win in 2024, but Brown comfortably won reelection in 2018 by 6.8 points and voters approved a pro-choice ballot initiative in 2023.

Initially, polls showed Brown winning. Then in the weeks and days before the election, polls showed Moreno moving into in a slight lead. He again overperformed expectations. While the RCP average had him up +1.7 points, Moreno ultimately defeated Brown by +3.6 points. The win helped Republicans back control of the Senate chamber.

Of all the Senate races to watch last November, this was the battleground race. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., beat now former Democrat Sen. Bob Casey Jr., but that race took longer to call and involved a margin of 0.2 points. Montana and West Virginia also flipped from Democrat to Republican, by significant margins, but were considered more favorable to Republicans.

The accomplishments Moreno has achieved so far, including but not only this leadership position, could very well further indicate this senator will be one to watch.

Husted will be up for election in 2028, before Moreno is, despite being the junior senator. Moreno doesn’t face reelection until 2030 and has plenty of time to make an even bigger name for himself.