SENATE RACE
Ohio
CANDIDATES
Sherrod Brown
Democrat · Challenger
46.0%
538
vs.
Jon Husted
Republican · Challenger
47.8%
538
Sherrod Brown attempts a comeback for the seat he lost in 2024, running in a special election to fill JD Vance's vacated seat. Brown, the Rust Belt's most successful economic populist, faces Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, a polished establishment Republican. Brown's 'dignity of work' message resonates with the union and working-class voters who define Ohio's political identity, but Trump's +10 margin in 2024 means Brown must massively overperform his party — as he's done before.
OUTSIDE SPENDING
Pro-D $7.8M
Pro-R $9.2M
SLF and Club for Growth making OH a top priority
RECENT POLLS
| Pollster | Date | D% | R% | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson | 2026-03-20 | 46 | 48 | R+2 |
| Fox News/Beacon | 2026-03-05 | 47 | 47 | EVEN |
| PPP | 2026-02-22 | 45 | 49 | R+4 |
| Quinnipiac | 2026-02-08 | 46 | 48 | R+2 |
KEY ISSUES
| Issue / Topic | Democrat | Republican |
|---|---|---|
| Trade | Fair trade enforcement, worker protections | Free markets, reduce trade barriers |
| Manufacturing | Buy American, union protections | Deregulation, tax incentives |
| Economy | Working-class wage growth, pension protection | Business-friendly tax environment |
CAMPAIGN FINANCE · FEC
Sherrod Brown
- Raised
- $11.2M
- Spent
- $5.8M
- Cash on Hand
- $5.9M
- Small Donors
- 58%
- PAC / Super PAC
- $1.8M
CAMPAIGN FINANCE · FEC
Jon Husted
- Raised
- $8.4M
- Spent
- $4.6M
- Cash on Hand
- $4.2M
- Small Donors
- 15%
- PAC / Super PAC
- $5.2M
DEMOGRAPHICS · CENSUS
- Population
- 11.8M
- Median Household Income
- $58,116
- White Non-Hispanic
- 76.7%
- Black
- 13.1%
- Hispanic / Latino
- 4.4%
- College Educated (25+)
- 28.9%
- Union Membership
- 12.4%
ELECTION INFO
- Election Date
- November 3, 2026
- Primary Date
- May 5, 2026 (special election)
- Term Length
- Remainder of Vance term + 6 years (Class I)
- Voter Registration Deadline
- October 5, 2026
- Early Voting
- Yes, October 6 - November 2, 2026