Haley rakes Ohio Senate candidate for criticizing suburban women on abortion stance

Former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley is going after Republican Ohio Senate nominee Bernie Moreno for comments he made concerning many suburban women’s views on abortion. 

The Columbus-based NBC affiliate WCMH first reported a video recording from a Moreno town hall in Warren County on Friday in which he said Democrats have many “single-issue voters,” especially with suburban women on abortion, which he called “a little crazy.” 

“Sadly, by the way, there’s a lot of suburban women, a lot of suburban women that are like, ‘Listen, abortion is it. 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 that are like past 50 — I’m thinking to myself, ‘I don’t think that’s an issue for you,’” he said. 

Haley slammed Moreno’s comment in a post on the social platform X, suggesting the comment could risk the election in a fierce race against incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D). 

“Are you trying to lose the election? Asking for a friend. #Tonedeaf #DonLemonVibes,” Haley said, referring to comments then-CNN anchor Don Lemon made last year saying Haley, 51 at the time, wasn't "in her prime."

Reagan McCarthy, a spokesperson for Moreno’s campaign, said in a statement that the candidate was “making a tongue-in-cheek joke” and believes women care just as much about other issues instead of being single-issue voters.

"Bernie was clearly making a tongue-in-cheek joke about how Sherrod Brown and members of the leftwing media like to pretend that the only issue that matters to women voters is abortion,” McCarthy said.

“Bernie's view is that women voters care just as much about the economy, rising prices, crime, and our open southern border as male voters do and it’s disgusting that Democrats and their friends in the leftwing media constantly treat all women as if they're automatically single issue voters on abortion who don't have other concerns that they vote on,” she continued. 

Moreno’s campaign did not comment on Haley’s criticism. 

Brown also pilloried Moreno for his remarks, arguing the GOP candidate “thinks he knows better than the 57% of Ohioans who made themselves clear on this issue.” Voters in Ohio passed a ballot measure last year to enshrine protections for abortion up to the point of viability in the state constitution, comfortably approving it with a clear majority of the vote. 

“The people of Ohio think women should have the power to make their own health care decisions, Bernie Moreno thinks he should. As a man over the age of 50, I care deeply about a woman’s right to make health care decisions for herself — for my daughters, my granddaughters, and all Ohio women, regardless of their age,” Brown said. “Despite the majority of Ohioans agreeing, Moreno has made it clear he would overturn the will of Ohioans by passing a national abortion ban.” 

Moreno said this month that he believes the issue of abortion should “mostly” be left to states to decide but that he supports “common-sense restrictions” on it at the federal level after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Reproductive rights has been a particularly powerful rallying issue for Democrats in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022; the issue was viewed as a contributing factor to the party exceeding expectations for its performance in the midterm elections later that year.

Vice President Harris has also run on the issue, attacking former President Trump for his role in appointing the Supreme Court justices who eventually cast votes that overturned Roe.

The Ohio Senate election is one of the most hotly contested races this year and could help determine which party controls the Senate for the next session of Congress. The state is likely to vote for Trump in the presidential race, but Brown is seeking to win another term and currently holds a narrow lead in the Decision Desk HQ/The Hill average.