Bernie Moreno applauded by Trump and primary opponents after ending Ohio Senate race

Bernie Moreno is being applauded by former President Donald Trump and primary opponents after he ended his campaign for Ohio Senate, citing "too many Trump candidates" in the race.

Former President Donald Trump said Bernie Moreno's decision to end his campaign for Senate in Ohio "will help ensure the MAGA Ticket wins BIG."

Moreno announced his withdrawal Thursday evening after meeting with Trump, who released a statement shortly thereafter.

"I am a businessman, not a politician. Business leaders recognize patterns before they happen," Moreno said. "After talking to President Trump we both agreed this race has too many Trump candidates and could cost the MAGA movement a conservative seat."

Trump thanked Moreno and his family for their "time and effort" campaigning.

"I was very impressed with Bernie who was tough on illegal immigration which, after the Biden disaster at the Border, has become a big issue for all candidates," the former president said. "He has done much for Ohio and loves his State and our great MAGA Movement." 

Moreno also criticized the current president in his statement. "Joe Biden is the result of socialist policies infiltrating our institutions and the Senate is the stopgap to prevent Washington, DC from spiraling out of control," he said. 

Trump won Ohio in 2020 by 53.3 percent and received more than 380,000 votes than when he won the state in 2016.

Republican Senate primary candidate, former state treasurer Josh Mandel said he considers Moreno "a friend and a force for good for our state and country." He said, "Few people have made the civic impact on Cleveland that he has — and that includes names like Hanna, Mather, Stokes and Rockefeller."

Author J.D. Vance, also a GOP primary candidate for Senate, offered praise. "Moreno is a patriot, and one of the most courageous (and earliest) voices against the COVID insanity of the last two years. Hope he continues to lead in the years ahead," he said on Twitter.

Moreno plans to return to the private sector and feels that withdrawing from the race will give Republicans the "best chance of success."

Five candidates are left in the crowded Republican primary, which is scheduled for May 3, 2022.

"To whomever wins the Senate race, I hope and pray they take the actions needed to stop illegal immigration, bring our manufacturing base back to America, and shrink the size and scale of the Federal Government," Moreno said. "It’s not too much for Americans to expect their government work for them."