AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Ohio's presidential and state primaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the presidential nominations locked up, the most high-profile election in Ohio’s primary on Tuesday will be the Republican contest to take on Ohio’s Democratic U.S. senator.

There are presidential contests in five states on Tuesday, but Ohio is one of two states also holding state and congressional primaries that day. Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, first elected in 2006 and uncontested in his primary this year, is among the most vulnerable members of a closely divided chamber and has managed to hold onto his seat even as the state has shifted to the right. In his most recent reelection in 2018, he defeated then-Rep. Jim Renacci by almost 7 percentage points. Two years later, Ohio voted for then-President Donald Trump by 8 points.

There are three Republicans on the ballot: state Sen. Matt Dolan, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and businessman Bernie Moreno. LaRose and Moreno have aligned themselves with the pro-Trump camp of the party, while Dolan is backed by more establishment Republicans, including Gov. Mike DeWine and former Sen. Rob Portman.

Moreno has the endorsements from Trump and the state’s junior senator, JD Vance. Dolan finished third in the 2022 primary that Vance won.