Sherrod Brown To Launch A Comeback Attempt For Senate In Ohio

Former Sen. Sherrod Brown has decided to tally for Senate adjacent twelvemonth successful Ohio, according to 3 sources acquainted pinch his plans, perchance putting nan Republican-leaning authorities successful play for Democrats.

Brown mislaid his title for a 4th word past twelvemonth by astir 3.5 percent points arsenic President Donald Trump carried Ohio by 11 points. But a midterm twelvemonth is typically tougher for nan president's party, and Democrats person been aggressively recruiting Brown to tally successful nan typical predetermination to service nan remainder of Vice President JD Vance’s Senate word against Sen. Jon Husted, nan erstwhile lieutenant politician whom Gov. Mike DeWine appointed to Vance’s seat.

Cleveland.com was nan first to report Brown's plans to tally for Senate successful 2026.

Democrats look an uphill climb to return power of nan chamber, looking to nett 4 seats arsenic Republicans take sides a 53-47 majority. Democrats person 2 ripe targets successful North Carolina and Maine, but would they would past person to flip 2 GOP-held seats successful states Trump won by double digits past twelvemonth to return power of nan Senate.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has traveled to Ohio doubly successful caller months, pinch nan latest sojourn coming successful precocious June, a root acquainted pinch nan meeting, first reported by Axios, confirmed to NBC News. The erstwhile senator's expertise to overperform nan nationalist situation successful a authorities that's been broadly trending distant from Democrats is 1 main logic why they've been truthful bullish trying to lure Brown into nan race.

Tyson Shepard, a spokesperson for Husted’s campaign, said successful a connection to NBC news, "Should Brown participate nan title arsenic Schumer’s handpicked campaigner he will beryllium starting successful nan biggest spread of his governmental career. He has ne'er faced a campaigner for illustration Jon Husted. Brown’s slogans will ringing hollow arsenic his conjugation walks away, tired of nan extremist policies he’s forced to support to appease his coastal bosses successful California and New York.”

Brown, who had besides been weighing a tally for Ohio governor, has been moving to reorient his party, which, successful view, has mislaid its measurement among working-class voters.

“I’m not going to whine astir my loss,” Brown told NBC News precocious past year. “But I mislaid successful ample portion because nan nationalist estimation of nan Democratic Party is that we are benignant of a lighter type of a corp — a firm party. We’re seen arsenic a bicoastal, elite party. And it’s difficult to reason that.”

“We couldn’t walk nan minimum costs because Republicans almost uniformly were against it," Brown said astatine nan time. "It’s ever Republicans who are connected nan incorrect side, and location aren’t capable Democrats connected nan correct broadside to win. … It’s a bully illustration of really workers get screwed.”

A Senate tally from Brown would besides supply immoderate clarity for Ohio Democrats arsenic they look to capable retired nan remainder of their statewide slate.

Dr. Amy Acton, a Brown state who has been moving for politician for months, could ramp up her run without nan nagging speculation that nan erstwhile legislator mightiness participate nan title and push her to nan sidelines.

Young Democratic mayors for illustration Justin Bibb successful Cleveland and Aftab Pureval successful Cincinnati could ore afloat connected their uncomplicated 2025 re-election bids free of unit to measurement up to a Senate title adjacent year, though they could beryllium courted for down-ballot contests. Pureval, successful an question and reply past week astatine a Democratic Mayors Association convention that Brown addressed successful Cleveland, said he had nary penchant for what agency Brown seeks.

“I deliberation Sen. Brown is still our champion advocator and still our champion messenger for nan Democratic agenda,” Pureval said. “His heavy and genuine roots successful nan labour activity and his exceptional grounds while successful agency speak for themselves. But now is nan clip for genuine activity successful Ohio, and I judge Sen. Brown is nan personification to show that.”

The 1 remaining chaotic paper is erstwhile Rep. Tim Ryan, who mislaid to Vance successful 2022 and has shown liking successful a tally for politician aliases Senate successful 2026.