After weeks of speculation, former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is reportedly entering the race to run next year against Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed earlier this year to replace now Vice President JD Vance. Crystal Ball’s Larry Sabato already changed the state of the race from “Likely Republican” to “Lean Republican.”
Brown was denied a fourth term when he was defeated by Sen. Bernie Moreno by 3.6 points last November. That flip helped Republicans regain control of the Senate.
The Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com “spoke with three Ohio labor leaders whom Brown has told directly of his decision to run for Senate, as well as other Ohio Democrats who have heard of Brown’s plans via members of his inner circle.”
The Daily Signal reached out to Husted’s office for comment on the state of the race given the change from Crystal Ball.
Husted’s political X account has reposted comments in support of his reelection from Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who serves as the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, as well as Sen. Eric Schmitt R-Mo. Both highlighted Brown’s loss from last year.
Whoever wins next year’s U.S. Senate race in Ohio will be up for reelection in 2028, which is when Vance’s freshman term in the Senate would have ended. Moreno is up for reelection in 2030.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee also provided The Daily Signal with a statement: “Chuck Schumer and the Democrats are so desperate they’ve recycled a liberal loser,” said Nick Puglia, the committee’s regional press secretary. “Ohioans just rejected Sherrod Brown and they’ll do it again in 2026.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y, reportedly met with Brown to encourage him to run to defeat Husted, with the former senator being seen as Democrats’ best hope.
Senate Leadership Fund Chairman Cory Gardner also released a statement on Thursday. “Sherrod Brown has spent his entire career collecting a government paycheck, and now just eight months into retirement and after a date night with Chuck Schumer, he’s begging taxpayers for more,” said Gardner. “Ohioans firmly rejected Sherrod after he oversaw Biden’s disastrous inflation crisis as Banking Chairman, and they’ll gladly do it again. [The Senate Leadership Fund] stands strongly with Senator Husted and we look forward to seeing him re-elected.”
A press release with Gardner’s statement also referenced examples of “Sherrod Brown’s Radical Record,” citing his positions on illegal immigration, transgender politics, race, and taxes.
Americans for Prosperity-Ohio likewise shared a statement about Brown’s reported run that focused on his record.
AFP Ohio State Director Donovan O’Neil’s tied Brown to “the Biden/Harris Bidenomics playbook.” President Donald Trump beat former President Joe Biden in Ohio in 2020 and former Vice President Kamala Harris there in 2024, most recently winning the Buckeye State by 11.2 points.
Republican operative Jai Chabria explained why Crystal Ball changed the race to “Lean Republican,” telling The Daily Signal how Brown is “very capable” and an “institution in Ohio,” though he added that “people have lost faith” in the institution.
Chabria also spoke to how “there were tens of millions of dollars spent to define [Brown] as too liberal,” which he says “will continue to stick” and is “a brand [Brown’s] got to spend just to overcome in a state that’s moved red.”
It’s not merely what Brown has going against him, but what Husted has going for him. Chabria praised the current senator’s campaign as “very capable” and being a “tested campaign,” which he notes “makes it very challenging for Sherrod Brown.”
Chabria, a political advisor for Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, also pointed to strength from the “top of the ticket” for 2026 as a plus for Husted.
Brown was first elected as senator in 2006, when he defeated now Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, the incumbent at the time. Brown was comfortably reelected in 2012 and 2018 before Moreno beat him in the “Toss-Up” race.
The Daily Signal also reached out to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for comment.
