Copyright Newsweek
Former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown has improved his chances of winning a Senate seat in Ohio after his 2024 loss, according to a new poll released Tuesday. Newsweek has reached out to Brown and Husted’s campaigns for comment via email on Wednesday. Why It Matters Brown, who was in office for 18 years, lost last year's Senate race to Republican Bernie Moreno. Historically, the party in the White House loses seats in the midterms, but Ohio has grown increasingly conservative over the past decade. The state backed President Donald Trump by double digits in November, which also saw its former senator, JD Vance, to the vice presidency. Democrats notched wins in gubernatorial races, mayoral contests and a key ballot measure on Tuesday, but redistricting fights, an upcoming Supreme Court ruling and a tougher 2026 U.S. Senate map could temper that momentum heading into the midterms. Democrats will need to win double-digit Trump seats to win control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority. Democrats view Maine, which voted for Vice President Kamala Harris by about 7 points, and North Carolina, which voted for Trump by about 3 points, as flip opportunities. But no other GOP-held seats in Harris-won or single-digit Trump states are up for grabs, meaning Democrats have to target more conservative states like Alaska, Iowa, Ohio and Texas. What To Know Brown, who served in the Senate from 2007 to 2025, announced his 2026 Senate run in August. He is running against Husted who was appointed by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to fill Vance’s seat in January. Senate doesn’t elect every member each cycle because senators serve six-year terms. In November 2026, 33 seats will be contested, 20 of which are currently held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats. A Hart Research poll conducted on behalf of the Ohio Federation of Teachers surveyed 800 likely Ohio voters and found a boost in Brown’s chances of flipping Husted’s seat. The survey, released Tuesday and conducted between September 19 and 22, found that likely voters overall prefer Brown, 48 percent, to Husted, 45 percent. It was conducted ahead of the government shutdown and the 2025 elections. Brown led independent voters by 25 percentage points, with 56 percent backing him and 31 percent supporting Husted. Both candidates polled well among their own parties, while Brown also performed better among women, 54 percent to 40 percent. The poll also found that Brown is viewed more favorably overall, with a 42 percent favorability rating, while Husted is viewed favorably by only 21 percent. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Another poll has found Brown slightly ahead. Conducted by Bowling Green State University, the survey showed Brown with 49 percent and Husted with 48. It surveyed 800 registered voters from October 2-14 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. An earlier Emerson College poll of 1,000 registered Ohio voters conducted between August 18-19, found Husted ahead of Brown, 50 percent to 44 percent. The poll also found Brown's favorability rating higher than Husted's, 44 percent to the incumbent's 33 percent. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. What People Are Saying Sherrod Brown said in an X post on November 9: "Half a million Ohioans are facing monthly premiums that are double or triple what they were paying. This is a bad deal for Ohioans. It does nothing to help the out-of-control costs people are facing. We can’t allow health care costs to skyrocket and not be willing to fight. This is a problem created by Jon Husted and his special interest friends. At any point over the last 40 days, Jon Husted could have voted to reopen the government and helped people afford health care. But Jon Husted has done nothing to keep health care costs down." Senator Jon Husted said in a November 9 X post: "After 40 days of needless suffering for the American people, enough reasonable Democrats did the right thing and voted with us to end the Schumer Shutdown. We now have a path forward to put a stop to the damage of the shutdown and get back to work. I voted for the 15th time to reopen the government and to give hardworking Americans the pay and benefits they depend on. Ohioans can always count on me to be part of the solution." Ohio Federation of Teachers said in a November 12 X post sharing the poll: "OFT Poll: @SherrodBrown is leading Senator Jon Husted by 3 points. Sherrod has double digit leads with independent voters, moderate voters, suburban voters, and women, and has a 10 point advantage in net favorability." What Happens Next The election is set for November 3, 2026.
