New poll shows Matt Dolan leading Sherrod Brown in Ohio Senate race, but trailing in primary.

Ohio Senate Race: Dolan Neck and Neck with Brown, Trails in Primary

Ohio state Sen. Matt Dolan is in a tight race with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in the Ohio Senate race, according to a recent poll. However, Dolan is currently trailing in the primary, while other candidates face a larger deficit against Brown in a hypothetical matchup.

The poll, conducted by the East Carolina University Center for Survey Research, surveyed 805 registered voters in Ohio. It revealed that Dolan is the strongest contender, with 44% of the vote compared to Brown’s 45%. 4% of respondents preferred another candidate, while 7% remained undecided.

Another potential candidate, Ohio’s Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, polled at 42% against Brown’s 44%, with 4% favoring another candidate and 11% undecided.

However, Ohio businessman Bernie Moreno fared the worst in the matchup against Brown, receiving 42% of the vote compared to Brown’s 46%. 2% of respondents preferred another candidate, and 11% remained undecided.

Primary Poll: LaRose Leads, Dolan Close Behind

The same poll also surveyed the Republican primary for the Senate seat. It showed LaRose with a slim lead over Dolan at 17% to 14%, with Moreno trailing at 7%. However, a significant 58% of respondents remained undecided about their support in the race.

Jonathan Morris, the senior polling scientist for the ECU Center for Survey Research, expressed confidence in LaRose and Dolan’s standing among the base, predicting that their support numbers would continue to grow while the number of undecided voters decreases.

This primary poll aligns with a previous poll released in June, which also showed LaRose leading over Dolan and Moreno.

All three candidates have previously run statewide, but LaRose is the only one who has won a statewide seat. Dolan and Moreno both ran for the Senate seat in 2022, with Moreno dropping out after a conversation with former President Donald Trump, and Dolan finishing third in the primary. While LaRose has not officially announced his candidacy, it is widely expected that he will enter the race soon.

This Senate seat has been identified by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as a potential flip for Senate Republicans in 2024.

According to Federal Election Commission records, as of April, Dolan has $3.3 million on hand, with $3 million of that being a loan to his campaign. Dolan has not yet filed an FEC report for this election, and LaRose has yet to make an announcement.

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