Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio)
Date of Birth / Feb. 14, 1967
Residence / Westlake, Ohio
Occupation / Businessman
Education / B.A., University of Michigan
Family / Married to Bridget with four children
Businessman Bernie Moreno (R) defeated three-term Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) in their Senate race, flipping the state’s delegation to the upper chamber red. Moreno was backed by President-elect Trump.
The Ohio Republican, who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, moved to the U.S. at the age of 5 with his family and became an American citizen at 18.
In 2005, he purchased his first car dealership, a Mercedes-Benz retailer. According to his campaign website, he invested “every cent he had” into the company and “never looked back.”
Moreno co-founded CHAMPtitles, a digital title management firm, in 2018 and later served as chair of the board. He has since stepped down and sold his stake in the company to focus more on what he said is his calling: “Protecting the American dream for another generation.”
He ran for Senate in 2022, challenging now-Sen. JD Vance (R), but suspended his campaign before the GOP primary.
— Steff Danielle Thomas
Rep.-elect David Taylor (R-Ohio-2)
Date of Birth / Nov. 16, 1969
Residence / Clermont County, Ohio
Occupation / Businessman
Education / Bachelor’s degree, Miami University; J.D., University of Dayton School of Law
Family / Married to Charity with three daughters
David Taylor (R), who describes himself as a “political outsider,” will replace retiring Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R) in Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses part of southern Ohio, including the suburbs of Cincinnati.
Taylor, a businessman, owns the family-run company Sardinia Ready Mix Inc., which specializes in masonry and concrete. The Ohio native says he was inspired by his grandfather, who moved from the coal mines of West Virginia to the Buckeye State in search of a better life.
Before joining the family business, Taylor worked in the local prosecutor’s office, focusing on cases related to fighting the rise of drugs and violent crime in the state. The former attorney has vowed to give law enforcement the resources needed to crack down on fentanyl, crime and corruption.
“David knows we don’t need any more career politicians looking for another title on their obituary. We need people with real world experience who can get the job done,” his campaign website reads.
— Steff Danielle Thomas