Staff photo / David Skolnick State Sen. Matt Dolan, left, speaks to a small group of supporters Monday at Concept Studios in Youngstown. Dolan is among three Republicans running for the party’s nomination for U.S. Senate in the March 19 primary.

YOUNGSTOWN — State Sen. Matt Dolan said he’s the only Republican running in the party’s March 19 primary “with private and public sector experience,” who “has a record of achievement that has helped every-day Ohioans.”

Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls, has been on a 16-city, five-day “No Nonsense” tour since Thursday. His first stop Monday was in Youngstown at Concept Studios for a town hall discussion. The event attracted 15 people.

“If you look at my record, I get things done: lower taxes, less regulations, school choice, investment in infrastructure, investment in our police, do the things that are necessary to improve the quality of Ohioans’ lives. This is a message that will resonate with every Ohioan, which I can take right to Sherrod Brown.”

Brown, D-Cleveland, is seeking his fourth, six-year term in the U.S. Senate during the Nov. 5 election. He is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Also seeking the Republican nomination is Secretary of State Frank LaRose and businessman Bernie Moreno. Limited public polling shows the Republican primary to be a statistical dead heat with a large number of undecided voters.

The Senate race in Ohio is expected to be one of the most hotly contested in the country this year and will play a major role in determining which political party controls that legislative body.

Dolan has raised the most money among the three Republicans, primarily because he’s given $9 million of his own personal wealth to it. He’s raised $11.43 million overall, as of Feb. 28.

Moreno, who has the coveted endorsement of former President Donald Trump, has raised $9.74 million with $4.2 million from himself as of Feb. 28.

LaRose raised $2.22 million as of Feb. 28 with $250,000 coming from himself.

Brown has raised $33.77 million as of Feb. 28 with none coming from the candidate.

Asked about nearly 80% of his campaign money coming from himself, Dolan said: “We’ve raised seven figures. Primaries are difficult.”

He added: “I want to show them I believe in myself as well.”

ENDORSEMENTS

Dolan received the endorsement Monday of Gov. Mike DeWine and first lady Fran.

“As Ohio’s next U.S. senator, I look forward to working with Gov. DeWine and Republican leaders across the state to deliver results for Ohio and build a stronger, safer nation,” Dolan said.

DeWine, a former U.S. senator who lost reelection in 2006 to Brown, said of Dolan: “Matt’s service, experience and integrity will make him the most effective voice for Ohio’s interests on the national stage.”

Dolan received the endorsement on Friday of Rob Portman, a former two-term U.S. senator, and his wife, Jane. In the 2022 election, in which Portman opted to not seek reelection, he endorsed Jane Timken, the former Ohio Republican Party chairwoman, who finished fifth in the GOP primary. Dolan had sought Portman’s endorsement two years ago.

Asked about Portman’s endorsement, Dolan said: “All three of us were asking for the endorsement. It is a significant endorsement. Look, it is adding to my message. It is not Rob Portman’s message. He’s adding to my message that this is about getting things done for Ohio, that I have a record of achievement. I’m happy to have Rob join us and I think Rob brings a lot of people who looked at his service and said, ‘Yeah, I like him so if he trusts Dolan I trust Dolan.'”

He added: “But our campaign is about what I’ve been able to accomplish. We’ve been running for over a year and it’s about Ohioans and nothing else but about Ohioans so I haven’t been focusing on other people’s endorsements. I’ve focused on what’s going to make Ohioan lives better.”

Trump, who is the Republican Party’s presidential candidate for this election, has been critical of Dolan, primarily because Dolan had criticized Trump’s style as well as how he handled his 2020 defeat and the subsequent Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

But Dolan has been careful in this campaign to not speak against Trump.

He was asked if Trump’s endorsement of Moreno – though the former president hasn’t campaigned for Moreno – would factor into the race, Dolan said: “I think Trump’s policies play a big role in this election. I’m the only one that’s actually implemented Trump’s policies. Trump’s popular because his policies work. He cut taxes. I cut taxes. He’s cut regulations. I cut regulations. These are the things that Ohioans want to see done. Politically, you’ll have to ask (Trump). But policy-wise if we want to get good, solid policies that help Ohioans, then I’m your guy.”

In the 2022 Senate race to succeed Portman, Trump endorsed J.D. Vance, who won the election. Dolan ran in that Republican primary, finishing third out of seven candidates.

Among those attending Dolan’s event in support of the candidate were Mahoning County Auditor Ralph Meacham; Austintown Trustee Rob Santos; Chuck Blasdel, a former state representative; and Josh Prest, executive director of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission and a former Portman staff member.

Dolan “epitomizes what Rob stood for,” said Prest, who emphasized he supports Dolan as a private citizen. “He’d be a great person to support us in the U.S. Senate.”

Meacham said Dolan has “done a wonderful job in the Ohio Senate. He knows how to get things done and he’ll bring that to the U.S. Senate. He knows this area well and he’s able to beat Sherrod Brown.”

Have an interesting story? Contact David Skolnick by email at dskolnick@vindy.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @dskolnick