What Happened to Bernardo Francisco "Bernie" Moreno Mejía?

Bernardo Francisco Moreno Mejía, known as Bernie Moreno, was born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1967 and immigrated to the United States at age five, later becoming a U.S. citizen at 18. He built a significant business career, starting in the automotive industry after graduating from the University of Michigan. In 2005, he purchased a Mercedes-Benz dealership in North Olmsted, Ohio, which grew into the Collection Auto Group, a network of luxury dealerships across several states. By 2016, he owned over a dozen dealerships, becoming one of the largest luxury car dealers in the Midwest.

In 2019, Moreno began divesting from his automotive businesses to focus on his blockchain-based technology company, Ownum, and the Blockland Cleveland initiative, aiming to establish Cleveland as a hub for blockchain innovation. This period marked a transition from traditional business to a more tech-focused and public-facing role, laying groundwork for his political aspirations. He first sought public office in 2021, launching a bid for the U.S. Senate in Ohio, but withdrew from the 2022 Republican primary after a conversation with Donald Trump, citing too many 'Trump candidates' in the field.

Moreno announced his second Senate candidacy in April 2023, positioning himself as an outsider and an enthusiastic supporter of former President Trump. He secured the Republican nomination in March 2024, defeating Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose. The general election against three-term Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown was one of the most expensive Senate races in U.S. history, with total spending reaching nearly $500 million. Moreno's campaign, bolstered by Trump's endorsement and significant financial support from the cryptocurrency industry, successfully tied Brown to President Joe Biden and portrayed him as 'too liberal for Ohio.' Despite Brown's efforts to highlight Moreno's controversial comments on abortion rights and past wage theft lawsuits, Moreno won the election on November 5, 2024, with 50.09% of the vote, becoming the first Hispanic American senator from Ohio.

Moreno was sworn into the 119th United States Congress as Ohio's junior senator on January 3, 2025. A week later, on January 10, 2025, he became the senior U.S. Senator for Ohio when JD Vance resigned to prepare for his role as Vice President of the United States. As of August 2, 2026, Senator Moreno is actively serving on several key committees, including Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Budget; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Foreign Relations; Armed Services; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. His recent legislative work includes co-sponsoring the bipartisan Connected Vehicle Security Act, which passed the Senate Commerce Committee in July 2026, and a bill to provide unified ZIP codes for cities like Green, Ohio. He also co-authored a joint opinion piece with Senator Elizabeth Warren in June 2026, proposing to lift or eliminate the Social Security payroll tax cap. On August 2, 2026, Moreno publicly stated that his former son-in-law, U.S. Rep. Max Miller, 'needs serious psychological help' and should not serve in Congress, amidst allegations of domestic abuse.