From Bogotá to the Buckeye State — a first-generation American story written in grit, business, and public service.
Bernardo Francisco Moreno Mejía was born on February 14, 1967, in Colombia. His family immigrated to the United States, where he grew up in Florida. After attending the University of Michigan, he launched a career in business that would take him from auto dealerships in Greater Cleveland to the halls of the United States Senate.
In 2005, Moreno moved to Ohio, where he ran several car dealerships before pivoting into blockchain and technology ventures in the late 2010s. His private-sector experience — managing operations, negotiating deals, meeting payroll — gave him a perspective most politicians never develop: an understanding of what it actually takes to create jobs and keep a business alive.
In 2024, Moreno defeated three-term incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown to earn Ohio's trust. He was sworn in on January 3, 2025, and became Ohio's senior senator just days later when JD Vance resigned to assume the Vice Presidency.
Born in Colombia; family immigrates to the United States
Moves to Ohio; begins running auto dealerships in Greater Cleveland
Defeats three-term incumbent Sherrod Brown to win Ohio's U.S. Senate seat
Sworn in as Ohio's junior senator; becomes senior senator after Vance's resignation
Helps shepherd the GENIUS Act into law — the first major federal crypto legislation
Secures $72M+ in NDAA defense wins for Ohio, including Wright-Patterson AFB funding
Introduces the Connected Vehicle Security Act with Sen. Slotkin to protect American automakers
Senator Moreno and his wife Bridget live in Westlake, Ohio. They have four adult children. Outside the Senate, Moreno has deep roots in Cleveland's business and civic community — a background that informs his hands-on, results-driven approach to legislating.