In the race for Ohio's crucial U.S. Senate seat, Bernie Moreno, a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump, is under scrutiny as multiple discrimination lawsuits against him and his car dealership have come to light. An Associated Press review found that three discrimination suits were filed between 2015 and 2017, alleging gender, age, and race discrimination.

The first lawsuit, filed in 2015, accused Moreno and his company Bernie Moreno Cos. of gender discrimination. Former dealership supervisor Cara Wilson claimed that Moreno belittled her about being a mother and made derogatory remarks. Wilson alleged that she was stripped of her flex time schedule and wrongfully fired.

In a 2017 lawsuit, a Black former service manager alleged racial discrimination at an Akron Infiniti dealership operated by a BMC subsidiary. Ronell Thompson claimed he was targeted for discipline and demoted after raising concerns about unequal pay for white peers and a subordinate.

The third lawsuit, also filed in 2017, accused Moreno and BMC of gender and age discrimination. Saleswoman Dolores Wolfe alleged that she was repeatedly passed over for promotions in favor of younger white males. She claimed that Moreno promised her a promotion to discourage her from resigning, but it never materialized.

A campaign spokesman for Moreno stated that the two employees who sued him directly now support his U.S. Senate campaign. Moreno, born in Bogotá, Colombia, emphasized his commitment to providing equal opportunities to all his workers.

Trump has endorsed Moreno, praising his success in business and describing him as a "MAGA fighter" who would be valuable in the Senate. Republican support has coalesced behind Moreno following the endorsement, with endorsements from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

The GOP primary on March 19 will determine the candidate who will face Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, seen as one of the most vulnerable incumbents this year in the divided Senate.

Bernie Moreno's campaign released an open letter signed by 23 former female employees vouching for his fair and respectful treatment of them. Campaign spokesman Conor McGuinness highlighted Moreno's commitment to equal opportunities and stated that he knows the plaintiffs personally and that they have moved past previous misunderstandings.

While multiple discrimination lawsuits have been filed against Moreno's company, experts caution against assuming systemic issues and stress the importance of robust anti-discrimination training programs in male-dominated industries.

The outcome of the primary and the controversies surrounding the discrimination lawsuits will likely shape the trajectory of the Ohio Senate race, pitting Bernie Moreno against incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown.