Sherrod Brown launches Senate comeback bid in Ohio for 2026

Washington — Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown announced a bid to erstwhile again correspond Ohio successful the Senate connected Monday, astir a twelvemonth aft his reelection effort successful 2024 fell short.

"I didn't program to tally for bureau again. But erstwhile I spot what's going on, I cognize I tin bash thing astir it for Ohio," Brown said successful a video announcement. "That's wherefore I'm moving for Senate, due to the fact that adjacent successful these challenging times, I inactive judge if you basal up for workers, dainty radical with respect, and ever combat for Ohio, you tin really marque a difference."

Brown, 72, lost his bid for a 4th word successful the precocious enclosure past November against GOP challenger Sen. Bernie Moreno. Brown was the sole Democrat holding statewide bureau successful Ohio and was 1 of the cardinal targets for Republicans successful the 2024 predetermination successful which they took power of the Senate. 

Sen. Sherrod Brown addresses volunteers astatine a run bureau connected November 4, 2024 successful Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Stephen Maturen / Getty Images

Brown had historically appealed to ticket-splitters with his beardown working-class marque successful the state, which helium had represented successful the Senate since 2007. But President Trump won Ohio by much than 10 percent points, making Brown's predetermination a steep uphill climb. Moreno bushed him by little than 4 points.

In 2026, Brown is acceptable to look disconnected against Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican who was appointed to capable Ohio's different Senate seat, which Vice President JD Vance vacated. The peculiar predetermination volition find who volition service the remainder of Vance's term, meaning the victor would person to tally for predetermination again successful 2028.

Husted, 57, was appointed successful January by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, and antecedently served arsenic DeWine's lieutenant governor.

The Ohio contention is expected to beryllium a pugnacious conflict for Democrats, arsenic the enactment seeks to retake the bulk successful the Senate. With 53 Republicans successful the precocious chamber, Democrats would request to support seats successful a fistful of perchance competitory states, portion flipping 4 seats to retake a bulk successful 2026.

While fewer races look comfortably successful range, Democrats person been moving to enlistee formidable candidates, similar erstwhile North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, to boost their chances. Brown's entranceway into the contention marks the latest recruiting triumph for the party.