A Brief Explanation of the “Adult Friend Finder” Story That Is Sort of Rocking the Ohio Senate Race – By Ben Mathis-Lilley (Slate) / March 15, 2024
Dirty politics is back in the Buckeye State!
Things have gotten weird and wild in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary with the publication of an Associated Press story about one candidate’s connection to the Adult Friend Finder website landing just days before voting starts. It’s a big deal given that this primary will decide which Republican will face incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown in what’s expected to be a close race that could—like all the close Senate races this year—determine control of the chamber. Let’s unpack things.
Who’s running for Senate in Ohio and why are they significant?
The leading candidates in the race, in order of their polling averages, are Bernie Moreno, Matt Dolan, and Frank LaRose.
Moreno, a Colombian immigrant, has been endorsed by Donald Trump; he made his name as the owner of a number of car dealerships and is an “evangelist for crypto technology,” which is certainly a suggestive combination of interests. He also ran for Senate as a MAGA right-winger in 2022, but dropped out of the race before voting began, a move that helped clear the way for current Sen. J.D. Vance’s victory.
