Who is Jon Husted and what is Husted running on in the 2026 Ohio Senate special election race?

Jon Husted is the Republican candidate for Ohio U.S. Senate (special election), and the incumbent. Appointed U.S. Senator since January 2025; former Ohio Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State; Trump-endorsed. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Jon Husted (R), appointed Jan 2025 to replace JD Vance; special election for the rest of the term through Jan 2029.
• Rating: Toss-up (Sabato’s Crystal Ball, moved June 2026).
• Polling: FiftyPlusOne average Brown 47.4, Husted 43.5 (Oct 1, 2026); latest notable poll Brown 53, Husted 45 (Fox News, Aug 6 to 10, 2026).

Why Husted is behind

• Brown has led most recent polling (FiftyPlusOne average Brown +4 as of Oct 1; Fox News Aug poll Brown +8).
• Husted’s favorability is underwater (43/53) and 51% of voters worry he is too close to Trump.
• Cost of living dominates (40% top issue), playing to Brown’s worker/cost message.
• Husted’s case: Ohio voted Trump by double digits and Brown already lost in 2024 despite raising $103M+; Senate Leadership Fund pledged $79M for Husted.

What Husted is running on

• Brown’s record. Argues Ohio voters already rejected Brown’s ‘failed’ record in 2024.
• Government shutdown. Touted repeated votes to reopen the government and restore pay and benefits during the shutdown.
• Values. Campaign frames him around ‘hard work, personal responsibility, family, faith, freedom and patriotism’ and casts Brown as pushing ‘radical liberal policies’.

In Husted’s own words

“I voted for the 15th time to reopen the government and to give hardworking Americans the pay and benefits they depend on.”

The other candidates

• Sherrod Brown (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.