Ohio voters will choose between incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican challenger Bernie Moreno in the 2024 U.S. Senate election. Brown has served in the Senate since 2007. Bernie Moreno is a political newcomer, former car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur. The winner of this race could determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.
The voter registration deadline in Ohio is Monday, October 7, 2024. In-person absentee voting will be available from Tuesday, October 8, 2024, to Sunday, November 3, 2024, leading up to the general election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Nearly half a million LGBTQ people live in Ohio. Thirty percent of LGBTQ people in Ohio are raising children. Analysis shows LGBTQ voters played a deciding role in the 2020 election, flipping the Senate to a pro-equality majority. And estimates show that by 2040, almost 18% of voters in the state will be LGBTQ.
Ohio lacks comprehensive statewide protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in areas such as employment, housing, and public accommodations. The Ohio Fairness Act (Senate Bill 119), which would provide statewide protections against LGBTQ discrimination, has been introduced but has not passed. Multiple anti-LGBTQ bills passed the Ohio House in 2023 including HB 8, modeled after Florida’s “Don’t Say LGBTQ” bill, and HB 68, which prohibits gender-affirming care for transgender youth and bans transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity. HB 68 was vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine, but the veto was overridden by the Ohio House and Senate.
For GLAAD’s Election 2024 fact sheet on Ohio, click here.
GLAAD urges the media to include LGBTQ issues in their questions to candidates, and consider them when covering the campaign. Research on the candidates’ records on abortion is also included, as abortion is an LGBTQ issue.
Research on the candidates’ LGBTQ records includes:
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D), Incumbent (pictured above, left)
—Voted for the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act which ensures protections for same-sex and interracial couples under federal law.
—Introduced a Senate resolution to recognize June as LGBTQ Pride Month, marking the seventh year in a row that Brown has introduced the resolution.
—Voted against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 as a U.S. Representative
—Consistently supported LGBTQ equality throughout his political career.
—Voted to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2010.
—Supported marriage equality before the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision in 2015.
—Co-sponsored the Equality Act, which would provide comprehensive protections against discrimination for LGBTQ people.
—Consistently opposed attempts to ban transgender athletes from participating in sports aligned with their gender identity.
—Supported efforts to protect LGBTQ youth from conversion therapy.
—Consistently pro-choice throughout his career.
—Voted against restrictions on abortion access.
—Supports codifying Roe v. Wade protections into federal law.
—Opposes Ohio’s six-week abortion ban.
Bernie Moreno (R), Businessman (pictured above, right)
—Distanced himself from previous pro-LGBTQ and anti-discrimination positions, claiming not to have remembered meeting with Equality Ohio and signing his company on as a member of Ohio Business Competes, a business coalition formed to advocate for legislation outlawing discrimination against LGBTQ people in Ohio when it comes to housing, employment or public services. Claimed to be unfamiliar with non-discrimination bill the Ohio Fairness Act that the coalition formed to promote in the Ohio Statehouse. He supported LGBTQ rights and anti-discrimination legislation as recently as 2020, and his oldest son is gay.
—Adopted anti-LGBTQ talking points including accusing LGBTQ rights advocates of pushing a “radical” agenda of “indoctrination.”
—Criticized Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a state bill banning essential mainstream health care for transgender youth, a veto that DeWine says came after discussion with parents and providers about how the care saves lives
—Ran an ad calling a GOP primary opponent untrustworthy because he was “left-wing” and “pro-trans.”
—Opposes The Equality Act, federal legislation to amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include comprehensive protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
—Opposes abortion rights, “no exceptions.”
—Said that “biological men can’t play women’s sports,” misgendering transgender athletes.
—Opposes abortion rights with “no exceptions” and supported a national ban on abortion within weeks after Ohio voters codified reproductive health care freedom into the Ohio state constitution last November, and he is endorsed by Ohio Value Voters, who oppose marriage equality and LGBTQ rights.
—Said women’s interest in abortion rights is “a little crazy,” and said, “especially for women that are like past 50 — I’m thinking to myself, ‘I don’t think that’s an issue for you.’”