Who is Sherrod Brown and what is Brown running on in the 2026 Ohio Senate special election race?

Sherrod Brown is the Democratic candidate for Ohio U.S. Senate (special election). Former three-term U.S. Senator (2007-2025) who narrowly lost in 2024 to Bernie Moreno; founded the Dignity of Work Institute in 2025. 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 Brown is ahead

• 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 Brown is running on

• Workers / economy. Runs on a ‘Dignity of Work’ platform focused on wages, working and middle-class families.
• Healthcare costs. Highlights rising health premiums and coverage losses for Ohioans.
• Tariffs / trade. Criticizes Trump’s tariffs as causing ‘economic chaos’.
• Taxes / deficit. Opposes the GOP tax law’s tax cut for the wealthy and the deficit increase.
• Corruption. Campaigns against ‘corruption and greed in Washington’.

In Brown’s own words

“Half a million Ohioans are facing monthly premiums that are double or triple what they were paying.”

“Ohioans are fed up with the corruption and greed in Washington.”

The other candidates

• Jon Husted (R)

Every race

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