Summary
- Sherrod Brown to run Ohio Senate 2026.
- Lost 2024 race to Republican Moreno.
- Will challenge incumbent Senator Jon Husted.
- Key Democratic candidate to gain Senate seat.
- An important race for control of the Senate next year.
Although Brown hasn’t officially announced his
intentions yet, those with knowledge of them who were not allowed to discuss
them in public claimed he intends to run. An announcement might be made by the
end of next week, according to one source. Cleveland.com was the first to
report on the decision.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Brown, 72,
to run for the Senate seat currently occupied by Republican U.S. Sen. Jon
Husted, 57, a former lieutenant governor, state senator, and secretary of state
from Ohio.
Despite losing to Republican Bernie Moreno in 2024 for reelection, Brown, a
working-class champion and three-term former senator, is seen by Democrats as
one of their most formidable prospects.
His candidacy would be the party’s next
significant recruiting victory. In the next midterm elections, Democrats will
confront a formidable Senate map, but they have been encouraged by the choices
of prominent candidates to participate in high-profile contests.
This includes North Carolina, where former
Democratic Governor Roy Cooper declared his intention to compete for an open
Senate seat, providing Democrats with a statewide victor that has been proven
in a campaign that is anticipated to be among the most contested in 2026.
Republican leaders have identified Democratic
incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff as their top target in the upcoming midterm
elections, but Republicans have had difficulty fielding candidates in crucial
battleground states like Georgia, where term-limited Brian Kemp declined to run
against him.
How might Brown’s return impact Ohio’s political
landscape next year?
Brown is Ohio’s best-known Democrat and the only
one to hold a statewide office over the last decade. His candidacy provides a major
boost for Democrats aiming to regain control of the Senate. His strong name
recognition and deep ties to working-class voters strengthen Democratic chances
in a state trending Republican.
Brown will likely face off against Republican
Senator Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by JD Vance
becoming vice president. The race is expected to be highly competitive and one
of the most watched in the 2026 midterms, as Ohio has leaned more Republican in
recent years.
Brown’s confirmed Senate bid clears up
speculation about whether he would run for governor.
