Moreno defeats incumbent US Sen. Sherrod Brown in key Ohio race

Republicans prevailed Tuesday in a must-win Senate race in Ohio, as Trump-backed Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno defeated Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown to help shift control of the chamber to the GOP, according to the Associated Press.

Republicans took the U.S. Senate late Tuesday after flipping Democratic held seats, taking the majority - the first time in four years.

Moreno was born in Bogota, Colombia and came to the U.S. with his family when he was five years old. When he turned 18 years old, he became an American citizen.

“I am running for the U.S. Senate because, for too long, the men and women who move Ohio forward, American workers, have been left behind by career politicians like Sherrod Brown and Joe Biden,” said Moreno during his campaign.

Moreno’s campaign focused 16 top priorities, including supporting a ban on late term abortions and enacting term limits for members of congress.

“All public policy priorities in America should revolve around a simple concept: what is good for American workers and families?” said Moreno. “All elected officials should strive to create a growing middle class where the American Dream is accessible to anyone, regardless of their background.”

President Donald Trump, Senator J.D. Vance, Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost are among some of his supporters.

Moreno spoke at an acceptance speech in Cleveland.

“We talked about wanting a red wave. I think what we have tonight is a red, white and blue wave,” he said. “Because what we need in the United States of America is leaders in Washington, D.C., that actually put the interests of American citizens above all else. We’re tired of being treated like second-class citizens in our own country. We’re tired of leaders that think we’re garbage and we’re tired of being treated like garbage.”

As of early Wednesday morning Trump had 267 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, according to the Associated Press.