Former megadealer Bernie Moreno trying again for Senate seat

Former megadealer Bernie Moreno is taking a second stab at running for U.S. Senate.

In 2022, Moreno dropped out of a crowded Republican field vying for one of Ohio’s Senate seats after former President Donald Trump asked him to step aside. Now, Moreno has filed paperwork to run in 2024, and Trump is encouraging his candidacy.

Moreno, 56, is attempting to unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is seeking his fourth term.

“Over the past few weeks, Bernie has talked with voters, business leaders, conservative activists and donors throughout the state and has received overwhelming encouragement to run,” a source close to Moreno told NBC News last week. The source told NBC that Moreno was expected to make a formal announcement this week.

Trump posted in support of Moreno on his social media site, calling him a “highly respected businessman” who “would not be easy to beat.”

Moreno was among more than a dozen Republicans who sought Ohio’s Senate nomination in 2022. He loaned his campaign millions of dollars from his personal fortune before ending his candidacy after speaking with Trump, who endorsed the eventual winner, author J.D. Vance.

Moreno owned as many as 15 dealerships but sold his last one in August 2022. He told Automotive News several weeks later that he missed auto retailing and was looking to get back into the business.