EXCLUSIVE — The Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity Action will play in Ohio‘s most competitive races this election cycle, announcing endorsements of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, in addition to GOP congressional candidates Derek Merrin and Kevin Coughlin.

Moreno’s race against third-term incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is a top-tier toss-up contest that could flip the Senate’s Democratic 51-49 majority. Meanwhile, Merrin’s race against Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) for Toledo’s 9th District and Coughlin’s against Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) for Akron’s 13th District are both Democratic-leaning toss-up contests for a House that Republicans control by six seats.

AFP did not disclose how much money it would pump into these races for advertising and ground game programs, but past endorsees have benefited from the group’s door-knocking efforts and TV ad buys.

AFP Action Ohio senior adviser Donovan O’Neil described Moreno, president of car dealership company the Collection Auto Group, who was also endorsed by former President Donald Trump over establishment favorite Matt Dolan before this week’s Republican primary election, as “a champion of fiscal stewardship and understands the nuances of the tax code to help slash unnecessary taxes.”

“At a time when inflation is at an all-time high, AFP Action is excited to back Bernie Moreno, who has both the business experience and leadership necessary to improve the lives of all Ohioans,” O’Neil told the Washington Examiner. “He knows the arduous consequences of ‘Bidenomics’ first-hand, and he is committed to implementing policies that will encourage economic growth.”   

As a state representative, Merrin has tried to introduce tax reforms, including eliminating income tax and modifying property taxes, according to O’Neil.

“As former state senator, Kevin Coughlin knows what it takes to keep our nation safe and economically sound,” he said. “He is clear in his desire to be a fiscal leader, supporting key economic policy reforms including balanced budgets, entitlement reforms, competitive tax rates, and fewer regulations. His pursuit for criminal justice reform and parental rights in education prove that he is prepared to help pass common sense solutions in Washington, D.C.”     

Moreno is AFP Action’s fifth Senate endorsement, announced as part of the organization’s three-pillar strategy, which now prioritizes the Senate since Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee this month over the House. The strategy has the goal of preventing what AFP Action calls “the greatest threat to the future of our country,” or “one-party progressive rule” in the nation’s capital.

“Our country desperately needs to turn the page on the current political era in Washington, D.C., and get back to advancing good policy that will improve lives,” AFP Action senior adviser Emily Seidel told the Washington Examiner. “It’s more critical than ever for AFP Action to build a firewall against Joe Biden in the U.S. Senate and House. Heading into this next phase of our strategy, we are stronger, more focused, and more determined to get the job done — this is what AFP Action was built for. ”

AFP Action previously endorsed former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who, despite having about $30 million in advertising and organizing support, did not win the Republican nomination against Trump.

“She has made it clear that she will continue to fight, and we wholeheartedly support her in this effort,” Seidel said of Haley at the time. “But given the challenges in the primary states ahead, we don’t believe any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory.”

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AFP Action also previously endorsed Tim Sheehy in Montana, Sam Brown in Nevada, Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, and Eric Hovde in Wisconsin, with Seidel adding to the Washington Examiner that Jim Justice has “a clear path” in West Virginia, short of an endorsement. The Sheehy, Brown, and McCormick endorsements have been supported with a more than $2.5 million television ad buy in Montana, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, with a similar strategy planned for Ohio, per Seidel.

In 2022, AFP and AFP Action used its database of more than 8 million people to engage in 457 races, knocking on more than 7 million doors, delivering more than 100 million pieces of mail, and reaching millions more voters through phone and email, as well as television and digital ads.