Ohio Senate Election 2026
Jon Husted (R), appointed in 2025, is running (special election). Rating: Toss-up.
Status: upcoming. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sherrod Brown | Democratic | Senator 2007–2025 |
| Jon Husted (incumbent) | Republican | Appointed senator; former lieutenant governor |
Polls
| Date | Pollster | Sherrod Brown | Jon Husted |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 20, 2026 | VoteHub/Verasight | 47% | 44% |
| October 18, 2026 | Marist | 48% | 44% |
| October 14, 2026 | Rasmussen (R) | 47% | 49% |
| October 9, 2026 | BGSU/YouGov | 48% | 42% |
| October 6, 2026 | co/efficient (R) | 43% | 44% |
| October 5, 2026 | SSRS | 49% | 43% |
| October 1, 2026 | NYT/Siena | 49% | 46% |
| September 30, 2026 | YouGov | 49% | 45% |
| September 29, 2026 | InsiderAdvantage (R) | 44% | 43% |
| September 27, 2026 | Suffolk | 46% | 43% |
| September 27, 2026 | Marist | 51% | 43% |
| September 27, 2026 | Big Data Poll (R) | 46% | 41% |
| September 23, 2026 | Rasmussen (R) | 46% | 43% |
| September 23, 2026 | Quantus (R) | 46% | 45% |
| September 16, 2026 | Trafalgar (R) | 45% | 42% |
| September 10, 2026 | BGSU/YouGov | 48% | 45% |
| September 9, 2026 | InsiderAdvantage (R) | 47% | 42% |
| August 28, 2026 | Abacus (R) | 52% | 46% |
Average of the undefined most recent polls: Sherrod Brown 47.6%, Jon Husted 44.3%. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
Where the candidates stand
Sherrod Brown (D)
- Wants to restore the abortion protections of Roe v. Wade. (2024-08) source
- Supports banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. (2018-10) source
- Supports DACA and legal status for people brought to the U.S. as children. (2018-10) source
- Says billionaires should pay their fair share in taxes. (2024-08) source
- Has called for reversing the 2017 tax cuts that favored corporations. (2018) source
- Says tariffs can work when they are well designed to protect workers. (2025-05) source
- Supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15. (2018-10) source
- Introduced the PRO Act to protect workers' right to unionize. (2024-08) source
- Supports aggressive action on climate change. (2024-08) source
- Opposes military action against Iran without approval from Congress. (2020-02) source
- Supports limits on presidential power. (2021-12) source
- A longtime opponent of vouchers for private schools. (2018-10) source
- Supports marriage equality. (2015-01) source
- Supported military aid to Israel along with humanitarian aid for Gaza. (2024-10) source
- Argues that Husted's support for data centers has driven up Ohioans' electricity bills. (2026-08-04) source
Jon Husted (R)
- Describes himself as an unwavering opponent of abortion. (2017-07) source
- Led an overhaul of Ohio's concealed-carry law. (2017-07) source
- Calls for a compromise that deports lawbreakers but creates a legal pathway for others. (2025-08) source
- Blames the Affordable Care Act, which Brown voted for, for rising insurance prices. (2026-08-04) source
- Voted for Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage before the 2015 Supreme Court ruling. (state record) source
- Backs requiring data centers to build their own power and pay their own way. (2026-08-04) source
- Wants financial pressure on Russia to force it to withdraw from Ukraine. (2025-05) source
Sources
- 2026 United States Senate elections (Wikipedia)
- Latest Senate polls (RealClearPolling)
- 2026 election polls (Political.org)
- Cook Political Report Senate ratings
- The Green Papers: 2026 candidates by state
- Cook Political Report Senate overview: South Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota (Oct. 20, 2026)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
- Midterm Elections in Michigan, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
Ratings, candidates and polls last updated October 24, 2026. Ratings are expert forecasts, not results.