![[Screenshot/X/berniemoreno]](https://images.dailycaller.com/image/width=960,height=411,fit=cover,f=auto/https://cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-21-at-3.14.00-PM-e1708546943954.png "[Screenshot/X/berniemoreno]")
Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi endorsed businessman Bernie Moreno in the contentious Ohio Senate race on Thursday, the Daily Caller News Foundation first learned.
Hyde-Smith became the 12th U.S. senator to endorse Moreno as he vies to defeat two other Republicans in the primary to take on Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. The senator believes Moreno, who also has the support of former President Donald Trump, will help defend the agriculture industry and “put our country back on track,” she told the DCNF in an exclusive statement.
“I’m proud to join my Senate colleagues and President Trump in endorsing Bernie Moreno for U.S. Senate,” said Hyde-Smith. “Bernie is a Conservative outsider and successful businessman who will fight the Biden administration’s attacks on American agriculture and help put our country back on track. I look forward to serving with him in the Senate.”
Hyde-Smith’s support follows Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri’s endorsement last week, where he told the DCNF he was eager to work with Moreno on issues like immigration, federal spending and energy. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Eric Schmitt Throws Support Behind Bernie Moreno In Contentious Senate Primary)
“Senator Hyde-Smith has fought the Biden administration’s harmful agenda in the Senate, and I’m proud to have her endorsement,” Moreno told the DCNF in a statement. “Together, we will fight to secure our border, protect our Agriculture, and put our economy back on track.”
TUPELO, MS – NOVEMBER 26: (L-R) President Donald Trump looks on as Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Cindy Hyde-Smith thanks him during a rally at the Tupelo Regional Airport. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
GOP Sens. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Marco Rubio of Florida, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Rand Paul of Kentucky, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Ted Cruz of Texas, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Lee of Utah, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and John Barrasso of Wyoming have also backed Moreno in the primary.
Republican Ohio Reps. Jim Jordan, Max Miller and Warren Davidson are supporting Moreno’s candidacy, as well as former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
Brown’s seat, which he’s held since 2007, is characterized by The Cook Political Report as in the “Toss Up” category. Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana and independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema hold the other competitive seats under this column.
An Emerson College poll released Feb. 1 indicated Brown’s lead on Moreno has narrowed significantly, as well as against Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose and GOP state Sen. Matt Dolan. The senator is now ahead of Moreno and LaRose by two points, respectively, and is up by only one point against Dolan.
The Republican Senate primary is just weeks away on March 19.
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