Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is facing criticism for his position on illegal immigration, with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign by One Nation attacking him for supporting benefits for illegal immigrants. The ad highlights Brown’s votes with President Biden, including one to give illegal immigrants access to Social Security benefits. One Nation argues that Brown’s support for policies that benefit illegal immigrants is contributing to the current crisis at the Southern border. The ad comes as Brown is facing a tough re-election campaign against Republican candidate Bernie Moreno, who has been endorsed by former President Trump.
The ad campaign against Brown comes as border security and immigration have emerged as key issues for Republican voters, as shown in a recent national Fox News Poll. Among all registered voters, 14% said border security and immigration was a deal-breaking issue, ranking it in the top three most frequently cited concerns. The ad from One Nation is part of a $28.6 million statewide ad purchase targeting Brown on his immigration stance. The Cook Political Report rates the race between Brown and Moreno as a “Toss Up,” indicating that it is one of the most competitive matchups in the country leading up to the November elections.
One Nation’s ad campaign focuses on Brown’s votes on illegal immigration, particularly his support for benefits for undocumented residents in relation to COVID-19 relief funds. Brown’s campaign has defended his record, highlighting his efforts to pass laws to address drug cartels and pharmaceutical companies, as well as his work to protect the pensions of Ohioans. The campaign argues that Brown’s actions demonstrate his commitment to standing up for Ohio and doing what is right for the state. Brown has also supported a Democrat-backed border bill negotiated by bipartisan lawmakers, although Republicans have blocked the measure.
As President Biden faces low approval ratings and challenges to re-election, vulnerable Democrats like Brown are expected to distance themselves from the president in the lead-up to the November elections. Political experts believe that Brown will need to poll significantly better than Biden in order to win re-election in Ohio, where the president is unpopular. By supporting a Republican bill and demonstrating his independence from the Biden administration, Brown may be able to appeal to a broader range of voters and improve his chances of retaining his seat in the Senate. The upcoming election between Brown and Moreno is expected to be closely watched and highly competitive.
