Sherrod Brown Leads Jon Husted in Ohio’s Senate Race, According to Polls

Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown is currently leading against Republican Senator Jon Husted in Ohio’s Senate race by 8 points, as indicated by a recent Fox News poll. Brown, who has served three terms in the Senate, aims to return to Washington after his 2024 defeat by Republican Bernie Moreno. He now faces Husted, who has been in the Senate since January 2025 following JD Vance’s induction as vice president.

The poll suggests Brown holds 53% of the projected vote compared to Husted’s 45% among registered Ohio voters. Both Brown’s and Husted’s campaigns were contacted by Newsweek for comments via email.

Current Poll Findings

In last month’s primary election, Brown and Husted secured their respective nominations. The poll reveals Husted’s favorability rating stands at 41%, with an unfavorable rating of 50%. In contrast, Brown’s favorability is at 53%, with a 44% unfavorable rating.

Former President Donald Trump holds a favorability rating of 42%, with a 57% unfavorable score in the current poll. Notably, Trump’s favorability dropped by more than 20% from a November 2024 poll, where his numbers were 52% favorable and 46% unfavorable. This poll was conducted among 1,015 registered voters in Ohio from May 28 to June 1, with a margin of error of 3%.

Brown receives support from 98% of Democrats, whereas Husted has 86% backing from Republicans. Interestingly, 13% of Republicans support Brown, while only 2% of Democrats back Husted. The Cook Political Report has categorized the Ohio U.S. Senate race, along with races in Maine and Michigan, as a “toss-up.”

Campaign Dynamics

Husted and Brown have recently engaged in a public exchange on social media. Last month, Husted’s team commented, “Sherrod Brown was elected to office in 1974. He was in Washington for 32 years. Yet he can’t name one accomplishment from his time in office. That’s why he’s resorted to lying in his campaign ads.” Brown responded on Tuesday, critiquing Husted’s stance on affordability in Ohio, stating, “Gas prices went up, but your commute didn’t get shorter. Health care premiums doubled, but your doctor isn’t charging less. Groceries cost more than ever, but your family still needs dinner on the table. But Jon Husted says affordability isn’t a problem in Ohio. Jon Husted created this crisis, he’ll never fix it.”

Insights from Other Polls

Additional surveys provide varied perspectives on voter preferences. A Bowling Green State University/YouGov poll conducted prior to the primary showed Husted with 50% of the hypothetical vote, compared to Brown’s 47%. This survey included 1,000 registered Ohio voters from April 7 to April 14, with a margin of error of 3.88%.

Moreover, a NetChoice survey by Echelon Insights last month indicated Husted leading with 51% against Brown’s 45%. This poll involved 413 Ohio voters between April 3 and April 9, with a margin of error of 5.8%.