Ohio Senate race set between Jon Husted, Sherrod Brown

Washington — Sen. Jon Husted and erstwhile Sen. Sherrod Brown volition look disconnected successful November, aft Brown won his superior connected Tuesday night, CBS News projects.

Husted was unopposed successful Tuesday's primary.

The projected victories successful the Buckeye State tee up what could beryllium among the astir costly Senate races this cycle, arsenic Brown attempts a comeback 2 years aft losing reelection. Now, Democrats spot the authorities arsenic 1 of a fistful of opportunities to flip a seat, with a constrictive way to instrumentality power of the Senate.

Brown mislaid his reelection bid to GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno successful 2024 aft representing Ohio for 3 presumption successful the Senate. At the time, Brown mislaid by little than 4 percent points successful a authorities that President Trump won by much than 10. Democrats are hoping that shifting midterm dynamics, on with Brown's beardown sanction designation and working-class marque successful the state, tin extremity the scales successful their favor.

Husted, who formerly served arsenic Ohio's lieutenant politician and arsenic caput of authorities aft a decennary successful the authorities legislature, is defending the spot for the archetypal time. He was appointed past twelvemonth to capable Vice President JD Vance's seat. 

Ohio's 2024 Senate contention was the astir costly of the cycle, and this year's Senate contention is already shaping up to beryllium costly. Republicans are investing heavy successful the race, with the Senate Leadership Fund announcing their largest advertizing preservation truthful acold past period astatine $79 million. The Democratic Senate Majority PAC announced a $40 cardinal concern successful advertisement reservations connected Tuesday. 

Brown acold outpaced Husted successful first-quarter fundraising, according to Federal Election Commission filings, with $10.1 cardinal to Husted's $2.9 million. Heading into the primary, Brown had $17 cardinal successful currency connected hand, portion Husted had $8.1 million. 

Despite the fundraising advantage, Democrats inactive look an uphill conflict successful Ohio — and successful their effort to flip the Senate much broadly. While Republicans are defending much seats successful the midterms, galore of them are successful states that Mr. Trump won by comfy margins successful the past cycle. 

Democrats, with a fistful of unfastened seats to support and fewer opportunities for pickups, indispensable nett 4 seats to instrumentality the majority. But their chances person appeared to amended successful caller weeks arsenic the unpopular warfare with Iran and stubborn affordability issues person beleaguered GOP midterm ambitions.