At 73, Sherrod Brown is mounting a comeback bid in Ohio, one of the Democrats the party counts on to retake the Senate. He seeks to regain his seat by challenging Republican incumbent Jon Husted, who was appointed in 2025 after JD Vance became vice president. Brown narrowly lost his seat to Bernie Moreno in 2024.

Financial unease drives the race. A Fox News survey of Ohio voters finds inflation dominates their priorities, with 40% saying it is their top issue, far outranking healthcare, immigration, and political divisions. In 2020, 28% of Ohioans described their finances as “falling behind”; today it is 38%, and those voters favor Brown by 40 points.

Polls show Brown holds an 8-point lead, 53% to 45%, a margin unchanged since June. Among those certain to vote, his advantage expands to 10 points; among the most motivated, it jumps to 15 points. Brown also enjoys broad support from liberals, urban voters, union households, youth, women, and college graduates.

Party divisions cut across lines. Republicans favor Husted 87%, Democrats back Brown 97%. Yet 11% of Republicans and 25% of non‑MAGA Republicans cross over to Brown. Despite favorable ratings for Brown (51% favorable) and a deficit for Husted (43% favorable), one in five Brown supporters could switch, and one in four Husted supporters could change, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with party organizations and national figures.