Former Sen. Sherrod Brown has determined to run for Senate subsequent 12 months in Ohio, based on three sources accustomed to his plans, doubtlessly placing the Republican-leaning state in play for Democrats.
Brown misplaced his race for a fourth time period final 12 months by about 3.5 proportion factors as President Donald Trump carried Ohio by 11 factors. However a midterm 12 months is usually harder for the president’s get together, and Democrats have been aggressively recruiting Brown to run within the particular election to serve the rest of Vice President JD Vance’s Senate time period in opposition to Sen. Jon Husted, the previous lieutenant governor whom Gov. Mike DeWine appointed to Vance’s seat.
Cleveland.com was the first to report Brown’s plans to run for Senate in 2026.
Democrats face an uphill climb to take management of the chamber, trying to web 4 seats as Republicans defend a 53-47 majority. Democrats have two ripe targets in North Carolina and Maine, however would they might then should flip two GOP-held seats in states Trump gained by double digits final 12 months to take management of the Senate.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has traveled to Ohio twice in current months, with the newest go to coming in late June, a supply accustomed to the assembly, first reported by Axios, confirmed to NBC Information. The previous senator’s skill to overperform the nationwide atmosphere in a state that is been broadly trending away from Democrats is one fundamental motive why they have been so bullish making an attempt to lure Brown into the race.
Tyson Shepard, a spokesman for Husted’s marketing campaign, stated in a press release to NBC information, “Ought to Brown enter the race as Schumer’s handpicked candidate he might be beginning within the largest gap of his political profession. He has by no means confronted a candidate like Jon Husted. Brown’s slogans will ring hole as his coalition walks away, bored with the novel insurance policies he’s compelled to assist to appease his coastal bosses in California and New York.”
Brown, who had additionally been weighing a run for Ohio governor, has been working to reorient his get together, which, in view, has misplaced its method amongst working-class voters.
“I’m not going to whine about my loss,” Brown instructed NBC Information late final 12 months. “However I misplaced largely as a result of the nationwide fame of the Democratic Celebration is that we’re form of a lighter model of a company — a company get together. We’re seen as a bicoastal, elite get together. And it’s exhausting to argue that.”
“We couldn’t go the minimal wage as a result of Republicans virtually uniformly have been in opposition to it,” Brown stated on the time. “It’s at all times Republicans who’re on the unsuitable aspect, and there aren’t sufficient Democrats on the fitting aspect to win. … It’s a superb instance of how staff get screwed.”
A Senate run from Brown would additionally present some readability for Ohio Democrats as they give the impression of being to fill out the remainder of their statewide slate.
Dr. Amy Acton, a Brown ally who has been working for governor for months, may ramp up her marketing campaign with out the nagging hypothesis that the previous senator may enter the race and push her to the sidelines.
Younger Democratic mayors like Justin Bibb in Cleveland and Aftab Pureval in Cincinnati may focus totally on their uncomplicated 2025 re-election bids freed from strain to step as much as a Senate race subsequent 12 months, although they could possibly be courted for down-ballot contests. Pureval, in an interview final week at a Democratic Mayors Affiliation convention that Brown addressed in Cleveland, stated he had no choice for what workplace Brown seeks.
“I believe Sen. Brown remains to be our greatest advocate and nonetheless our greatest messenger for the Democratic agenda,” Pureval stated. “His deep and real roots within the labor motion and his distinctive document whereas in workplace communicate for themselves. However now’s the time for real management in Ohio, and I consider Sen. Brown is the individual to exhibit that.”
The one remaining wild card is former Rep. Tim Ryan, who misplaced to Vance in 2022 and has proven curiosity in a run for governor or Senate in 2026.
