Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is maintaining his lead over incumbent Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) as cost of living and inflation take center stage for voters in Ohio, according to a new poll.
Brown has held onto his 8-point advantage over Husted, with a new Fox News poll finding that 53% of voters prefer the Democrat, as the Republican trails at 45%. The numbers have remained the same from a poll conducted in June, which found the same margin.
The top issue for voters is affordability, with 40% of respondents saying inflation and high prices are the biggest factor in their vote for Ohio’s next senator. Healthcare and immigration and border security trailed at 14% and 12%, respectively.
Husted was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) to fill a seat left vacant by Vice President JD Vance. Brown was ousted by Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) in 2024 and is now challenging Husted to regain his seat.
The Republican incumbent’s alignment with President Donald Trump appears to be on voters’ radars, as 51% of respondents said they are “concerned” that Husted is “too close” to the president, regardless of whether they plan to vote for him.
Brown’s ties to the Democratic establishment have also caught the attention of Ohioans, with the poll finding 44% are concerned that the former senator is “too close” with the party.
Even though some are concerned about his proximity to the Democratic establishment, Brown has a strong connection with the party’s base, as 97% of Democrats say they support the candidate. Husted, on the other hand, may need to do some more convincing in the GOP, as only 87% of Republicans say they support him.
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The forecast for the race shows winds shifting in favor of Brown’s comeback bid, as the University of Virginia’s Sabato’s Crystal Ball in June moved the race to favor Democrats. The race moved from “leans Republican” to “toss up,” signaling an uphill climb in a state at risk of reverting to a swing state.
Polling is not decided in Ohio, as a New York Times-Siena poll from June handed Husted a narrow +3 advantage. Trump carried Ohio in 2024 by 12 points. That year, Moreno unseated Brown by a 3-point margin. Unlike Moreno, Husted will not have the benefit of Trump’s name on the ballot.