Brown’s Big Pharma Cash and Opposing Stance Spark Controversy amid Reelection Bid

To Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the pharmaceutical industry is increasing drug prices excessively in order to enrich its corporate executives. As he seeks another term in 2024, Brown has become one of the top recipients of donations from this sector among senators. Since 2006, his campaign and leadership PAC have received over $1.4 million from pharmaceutical companies and their employees, with almost half a million dollars being contributed during this current election cycle alone. Additionally, Brown’s campaigns and political action committee (PAC) have accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years from lobbyists for the industry. While Brown portrays himself as an opponent to Big Pharma due to its price gouging amidst record inflation, his acceptance of these significant contributions could result in accusations that he is being hypocritical when making a case to Ohio voters about why they should support him over Republican challenger Bernie Moreno. Brown’s stance on capping insulin costs for Medicare Part D enrollees and pushing for price caps more broadly has been praised by right-of-center economics experts, but some argue that these types of controls will eventually lead to shortages, create an excessively regulated system with high taxes, or burden consumers due to inflated drug prices. Although Brown has called on corporations found to have jacked up insulin prices “to fix this immoral greed,” he still accepts campaign donations from companies accused in lawsuits of price collusion related to insulin and other drugs. Additionally, lobbyists for these firms continue to contribute significant sums to his campaigns and PACs. Brown’s former chief of staff also previously lobbied on behalf of Cigna and Amgen. The healthcare giants Cardinal Health, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen are under criticism from some segments related to alleged distribution patterns relating the US opioid crisis; they have agreed to settle lawsuits with state and local governments for around $19.5 billion over 18 years in response to these allegations. When approached by the Washington Examiner regarding Brown’s willingness to continue accepting donations from Big Pharma, his campaign spokeswoman did not comment on whether he would swear off or return such contributions. Moreno has accused Brown of being a fraud who talks tough about opposing big corporations and pharmaceutical companies but is happy with their financial support for his reelection bid. Polls indicate that Brown currently holds a 6.7% lead over Moreno among likely and registered voters, although outside spending on this Ohio race has exceeded $28 million as of March – more than any other contest in the current cycle. Candidates have also raised around $65 million combined during this period for their campaigns.