Republican Bernie Moreno’s Dubious MBA Claim Raises Questions in Senate Campaign

Republican Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno has faced criticism over an inaccurate claim that he holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Michigan.The claim has appeared in documents, including a car dealership application and a biography from the Cleveland Foundation Board of Directors. However, the University of Michigan confirmed that Moreno only earned a bachelor’s degree in business, awarded in 1989. This issue comes to light as Moreno competes in a high-stakes race against incumbent Democrat Sherrod Brown for a U.S. Senate seat, as reported by the Ohio Capital Journal.

Discrepancies in Educational Credentials

The earliest instance of the false MBA claim dates back to a 2011 application for an Infiniti dealership in Coral Gables, Florida. The application, which was submitted in a legal context, listed Moreno’s personal details and academic credentials, falsely stating that he earned an MBA from the University of Michigan between 1988 and 1991. The university clarified that Moreno graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1989, with no record of an MBA.

Moreno’s campaign attributed this error to a staff member, stating, “This was a clerical mistake on the subsequent form not made by Bernie,” according to former chief financial officer Rob Kistler.

The Cleveland Foundation Board Bio

Another instance of the false MBA claim surfaced in 2014 when Moreno joined the Cleveland Foundation Board of Directors. His biography stated that he launched his automotive career after earning an MBA from the University of Michigan. The campaign has denied any involvement in submitting the false information, saying, “Moreno never told the foundation that he held an MBA,” according to his spokeswoman Reagan McCarthy.

In contrast, a 2018 biography of Moreno while he chaired the Cleveland State University Board of Trustees claimed he held multiple degrees from Michigan. However, this claim was removed after Moreno left the board.

Campaign’s Response to Allegations

Despite multiple instances where the false claim was made, the campaign asserts that Bernie Moreno himself never claimed to hold an MBA. McCarthy emphasized, “There is not a single example you can point to in which Bernie himself claims to have an MBA.” Moreno’s team insists that the errors were made by others, despite the misleading information appearing on documents with his signature.

As Ohio voters prepare for the upcoming Senate race, these discrepancies may draw more scrutiny, raising questions about transparency and honesty in political campaigns.