OHIO — Bernie Moreno, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, has faced continued criticism after a video surfaced in which he made comments about women voters and abortion.

Speaking at a town hall in Warren County on September 20, Moreno suggested that many suburban women prioritize abortion rights in their voting decisions, even making a controversial remark about older women and their concerns regarding abortion access.

“There’s a lot of suburban women that are like, ‘Listen, abortion is it,'” Moreno said. He added, “‘If I can’t have an abortion in this country whenever I want, I will vote for anybody else.’ OK. It’s a little crazy, by the way, but — especially for women who are like past 50, I’m thinking to myself, ‘I don’t think that’s an issue for you.’”

The comments sparked backlash from Democrats and some Republicans alike.

Senator Sherrod Brown, the incumbent Democrat, criticized Moreno for being out of touch with women’s health care concerns, particularly noting that many Ohioans support reproductive rights.

Even fellow Republican Nikki Haley weighed in, calling Moreno’s remarks “tone deaf.”

Brown, who is seeking a fourth term in a Republican-leaning state, has made abortion rights a key issue in his campaign.

He emphasized that Ohio voters have shown strong support for reproductive freedom, particularly since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

In a statement, Brown highlighted that many Ohioans, regardless of age, are concerned about women’s access to abortion.

Moreno, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, responded to the controversy by stating that his comments were intended as a joke.

His campaign criticized Democrats for focusing solely on abortion, arguing that women voters are concerned about a range of issues such as the economy and crime.

The Ohio Senate race has become the most expensive in the country, with ad spending surpassing $400 million by early October.

Republicans have outspent Democrats in the race, with significant sums reserved for the final weeks leading up to Election Day.

Unseating Brown is a high priority for Republicans, who see Ohio as critical in their bid to regain control of the Senate.