Sherrod Brown wins Ohio Senate seat, flipping key chamber balance
The 73-year-old Democrat defeated incumbent Jon Husted in a special election, ending a two-year absence from the chamber and securing a seat held by Republicans for the past decade.
By Sanjay Caldwell ·
Sherrod Brown defeated Jon Husted in Tuesday's Ohio special Senate election, reclaiming a seat that Democrats had lost in 2024. The victory shifts the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and marks a reversal in a state that has trended toward the Republican Party over the last ten years.
Brown, 73, spent more than $500 million on a campaign that focused on Husted's support for artificial intelligence data centers and his financial ties to Les Wexner. Wexner is a billionaire retailer who once employed Jeffrey Epstein. Brown argued that Husted, 59, was out of touch with working families and too aligned with wealthy donors.
Husted countered that Brown's five decades in politics made him outdated. He highlighted Brown's 2008 vote for the bank bailout and his age in television advertisements. Husted also emphasized his background as a former statehouse official, including his roles as lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and House speaker.
President Donald Trump visited Ohio multiple times to rally for Husted. The President focused on the candidate's physical appearance and the economic benefits of data centers. Despite these efforts, Husted conceded on Tuesday night, urging Americans to fight for their founding ideals.
Brown stated in his victory speech that he works for Ohioans, not utility companies or Wall Street. He pledged to stand with voters regardless of how they cast their ballots. The result comes after Brown lost his previous Senate seat to Bernie Moreno just two years ago.
According to AP VoteCast data, Brown performed better with younger voters than in 2024. About 7 in 10 voters under 30 supported Brown this year, compared to roughly half in the previous cycle. He also captured about two-thirds of moderate voters, an increase from about 6 in 10 in 2024.
The AP Voter Poll found that about half of Ohio voters had a favorable view of Brown, while only about 4 in 10 felt the same about Husted. Most voters viewed Husted as too supportive of Trump. Brown's win provides a path for Democrats to retake the Senate chamber, a goal that had seemed less likely as the election approached.
