Summary
- Emerson College poll: Jon Husted leads Sherrod Brown.
- Husted at 50%, Brown at 44%, 7% undecided.
- Race for the last two years of Vance’s term.
- Poll comes over a year before the 2026 election.
- Husted backed by Trump; Brown is Democratic hopeful.
According to the poll, almost half of Ohioans
are satisfied with President Donald Trump‘s performance, and billionaire Vivek
Ramaswamy has a significant lead against former Ohio Department of Health Director
Dr. Amy Acton in a possible gubernatorial contest.
This is the first Emerson College poll since
Brown declared he would run against Husted for the seat. It has a margin of
error of +/-3 percentage points and was sampled by cellphone among 1,000 Ohio
voters who are currently registered to vote.
Brown was trailed by Husted 50% to 44%, with 7%
still unsure. However, Husted only had a 33% favorable rating, whereas Brown
had a 44% favorable view.
“Husted has a 16-point lead among male voters
and voters without a college degree, and a 14-point lead among voters over 40.
Brown has a 13-point lead among voters under 40, a three-point lead among women
voters, and an eight-point lead among independent voters,”
Spencer Kimball,
executive director of Emerson College Polling, said.
According to the same poll, Ramaswamy led Acton
by 49% to 39%. As of right now, there are just two officially recognized
contenders for governor. However, Tim Ryan, a former congressman, may choose to
run.
Only 32% of respondents supported Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who is ineligible to seek a
third term, compared to 49% who supported Trump’s performance.
According to 44% of Ohio voters, the economy
remains their top worry. At 15%, threats to democracy came in second, followed
by health care (8%), and affordable housing (10%).
“Among voters whose top issue is threats to
democracy, 82% think congressional district lines are being drawn to benefit
the Republican Party,”
Kimball said.
According to Kimball, 82% of respondents whose
top concern is dangers to democracy believe that the Republican Party is
gaining an advantage in the drawing of congressional district lines.
How might Trump’s endorsement have shifted
support for Husted?
Trump’s endorsement signaled to Republican
voters and party officials that Husted is the preferred candidate, reducing the
likelihood of serious primary challenges within the party.
As a former president popular in Ohio—winning
the state by more than 11 points in 2024—Trump’s backing lent Husted increased
visibility and credibility among Republican voters. Trump’s continued influence
helps energize and solidify the Republican base, particularly voters who
strongly identify with Trump’s political brand.
Despite some recent dips in Trump’s national
approval ratings, Husted maintains that the endorsement remains a strength in
Ohio. Polls show Husted holding a lead over Democrat Sherrod Brown, aided in
part by Trump’s backing, which helps define the race’s political dynamics in
this critical battleground state.
