Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, who is an undeclared candidate for the U.S. Senate, is currently leading the race to unseat Ohio Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in 2024 in a new poll conducted by Louisiana-based Causeway Solutions for Leadership for Ohio Fund.
The poll obtained by the Washington Examiner details that among Republican primary voters surveyed, undeclared LaRose (pictured above) has secured a strong lead obtaining 24 percent of the vote over the already declared candidates.
The poll shows that Republican State Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) garnered 11 percent of the vote, and Republican businessman Bernie Moreno, who has received the most support and endorsements from influential politicians such as former President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-OH), sits at only 6 percent of the vote. Seventeen percent of those polled wanted someone else, and 42 percent of respondents were undecided.
Causeway Solutions said it polled 1,639 registered voters between May 19th and May 27th with a margin of error of 2.5 percent. The poll consisted of 526 Republicans, 535 Democrats, and 578 independents.
The poll memo notes that “LaRose benefits from his history of running, and winning, statewide four times (twice in the GOP Primary and twice in the General Election. Voters know him and like him, which is evidenced by his ability to build coalitions of supporters across the state.”
Although he has not made an official announcement, LaRose told The Ohio Star earlier this year that he is actively considering running against Brown in 2024.
“I am weighing it. I’m looking at it. Carefully considering it. It’s something that I think that to me it’s clear that Ohioans want to replace Sherrod Brown with someone who actually reflects their values,” LaRose told The Star.
LaRose assumed office as Ohio Secretary of State in 2019 and his current term ends in 2027. He was a Republican member of the Ohio State Senate, representing District 27 from 2011 to 2018. LaRose earned his B.S. in Consumer Affairs and Business from Ohio State University in 2007. His professional experience includes working as a business manager and project lead for a consulting firm. He served in the United States Army from 1998 to 2007 and reached the rank of Sergeant First Class.
LaRose told The Star that it’s critical for his party to nominate a candidate who can definitively win against Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, who has previously declared his intention to run for office again in 2024. In the increasingly red state, his seat will be viewed as a prime Republican pickup opportunity.
“I think it’s crucial for my party to nominate someone who shares their beliefs and can win against a candidate like Sherrod Brown,” LaRose told The Star.
The Democratic party currently holds a narrow 51-49 majority in the upper chamber.
A primary target for the GOP in 2024 will be Brown’s seat, along with those held by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV.), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who is retiring.
Most recently, reports have said that LaRose will announce his decision to run for U.S. Senate or not in the “mid-to-late” summer.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Frank LaRose” by Frank LaRose.
