Democratic candidate for Senator of Ohio Sherrod Brown talks with a reporters from various news outlets on Oct. 6, 2026. Credit: Michael Goulet | Campus Photo Editor.
Democrat Sherrod Brown reclaimed his U.S. Senate seat late Tuesday night, defeating Republican incumbent Jon Husted.?
Ohio was one of eight key races across the country, seen as crucial to Democrats’ hopes of wresting control of the Senate from Republicans, according to The New York Times.??
The AP called the race at 11:10 p.m. Tuesday night, with Brown earning 48.8 percent of the vote at the time of publication.?
Brown represented Ohio in the Senate from 2007 to 2025 but lost his 2024 reelection bid to Republican Bernie Moreno. Husted was formerly the lieutenant governor and was appointed to the Senate in 2025 following then-Sen. JD Vance’s departure to become vice president.?
Brown’s campaign pledges include holding healthcare companies accountable, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, requiring data centers to pay the full cost of utilities, capping utility rate increases and banning congressional stock trading, all per Brown’s website.?
“Let’s make it illegal for drug companies to charge Americans more than they do in other countries, because the same pill should be the same price,” Brown said on the website. “Folks in Toledo shouldn’t pay more for medication than folks in Toronto. Americans are getting ripped off by the drug companies because Congress won’t hold them accountable, but I will.”
Brown also supports keeping abortion legal in the state, tightening environmental regulations, expanding LGBTQ+ rights and raising the minimum wage, according to Guides.vote.
Josie Speakman, Ohio State College Democrats president and fourth-year in political science, said that the College Dems is very proud to have helped elect Brown and is excited to see where his term leads.?
“The College Democrats are thrilled by Sherrod Brown’s victory tonight,” Speakman said in a text. “We’re proud to elect a senator that puts Ohioans first over billionaires and corporations.”
Hunter Willmitch, Ohio State College Republicans president and fifth-year in political science and public leadership, management and policy, said that part of the reason Husted was not the winner was because of the state of the economy, uncertainty with the war in Iran and questionable strategies during election season.?
“Obviously a little bit disappointed that Senator Husted lost, but congratulations to Sherrod Brown on returning to the Senate,” Willmitch said. “I think this not just [Ohio’s] Senate race, but I think we could look at Texas, South Carolina, as hopefully a wake-up call that Republicans need to rethink their strategy and pick good leadership post-Trump era that can rejuvenate and reform the Republican Party because the current strategy is just not working.”
Husted spoke shortly after the poll was called, thanking his campaign team, family and supporters.?
“Sometimes there are a course of events that you can’t control,” Husted said in his concession speech, streamed live on YouTube. “We ran a great campaign, gave it all we could, and I’m grateful for all who supported us in so many ways.”?
Brown will serve two years instead of the regular six-year term because of the time that’s elapsed since Husted’s appointment, on top of the time Vance spent as senator.?
Brown thanked incoming Democratic Governor Dr. Amy Acton during his acceptance speech, which was also streamed live on YouTube, as well as the people of Ohio, campaign workers and his family.??
“We’ve not had an economy, we’ve not had a government that works for you and fights for you, until now,” Brown said during his speech. “You sent an undeniable message tonight: Ohio is not for sale. Ohio is not giving up on the dream of this country.”
