The Most Expensive Non-Presidential Campaign in U.S History is Set to be Decided by Razor-Thin Margins

A poll conducted by ActiVote during the las two weeks of October revealed that the Ohio Senate race between incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown and businessman Bernie Moreno is in a dead heat, with the latter just slightly ahead by two percentage points. However, another one by Trafalgar Group, sponsored by the GOP and undertaken from October 25 to 28, shows the Democrat ahead by less than 1 percentage point, a clear sign of just how razor-thin the contest has become.

As both parties vie for position, the race has also become known for another distinction: it is currently the most expensive non-presidential campaign in U.S. history, surpassing $500 million in spending. The race will seemingly come down to the wire and, in that regard, Latinos in the state have emerged as a critical group, as they have more than doubled their numbers since the turn of the century and currently represent around 285,000 voters in the Buckeye State.

Moreno, a Colombian-born businessman, has drawn support from Latino groups like Mamas and Latinas con Moreno, who advocate for stricter immigration controls, opposing sanctuary city funding and proposing policies to limit Temporary Protected Status extensions.

Moreno also made the headlines back in August when he published a controversial post on X stating that his rival and vice president Kamala Harris "destroyed Ohio communities" by "flooding" the state with migrants. He emphasizes economic growth as a priority for Ohio's Latino voters, aligning his platform with conservative economic ideals.

"As someone who came here legally, I can tell you that come January 25, if you're in this country and you came here illegally you are out of here," he said at a September rally, echoing Trump's promise for large-scale deportations if he regains the presidency, as The New York Post reports.

Meanwhile, Brown, a long-serving Democrat, is leaning on his record of supporting labor rights, health care costs, and a populist approach that he hopes will resonate with working-class voters. Brown has downplayed national political affiliations, focusing instead on local issues like capping insulin prices and opposing trade deals that could harm Ohio workers, garnering unexpected support from prominent GOP figures in the state in the process.

Trump currently holds a strong lead in the state, as Five Thirty Eight currently gives the former president an 11-point lead.