By REBECCA DOWNS, The Daily Signal | November 04, 2026
Democrats achieved a key pickup in Ohio on Tuesday night, as former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown will once more return to the U.S. Senate chamber. He had been defeated by Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno in 2024, though the two will now have to serve alongside each other.
With 91% of the votes counted, Brown defeated incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Husted 48.9% to 46.2%, according to Decision Desk HQ, which called the race at 11:15 p.m.
Brown’s victory comes despite President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Moreno having campaigned several times for Husted throughout the state during the month of October, including on Oct. 28, less than a week before the election.
In a video clip posted to X after his win, Brown went for a line against “billionaires,” “corporations,” and “corruption.” He also claimed his campaign “fought back against hundreds of millions of dollars in dark money attacks” and “took on Big Tech, the insurance companies, the drug companies, and Wall Street.”
He also threw at harsh jab at Husted.
“We said no to a senator who screwed over working people every chance he got,” Brown said. “We told Jon Husted, we told all of Washington, we’re not putting up with them anymore.”
Speaking from downtown Columbus to give his concession speech, Husted teared up at times in his remarks, focusing on gratitude and service, especially when mentioning how his parents adopted him from foster care.
“Look, there are some things that you can’t control, and we ran a great campaign,” he said. “We gave it all we could. I’m grateful for all who supported us in so many ways.”
“I know many of you feel disappointment, and it’s hard when you invest time and energy in something and it doesn’t turn out,” Husted continued, as he quoted from the Bible about rejoicing in suffering and the perseverance it provides.
While Brown lost in 2024 by 3.6%, he did far better than then-Vice President Kamala Harris did, as she lost the Buckeye State to Trump by 11%.
He also enjoyed a lead in the polls, according to RealClearPolling, as well as with forecasters and the prediction markets.
Ohio was seen as a key pickup opportunity for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who was reportedly instrumental in getting Brown to run again in the summer of last year.
Brown ran aggressive campaign ads to defeat Husted and claim his old seat back, with a focus on Jeffrey Epstein as well as data centers.
While the Ratepayer Protection Act, sponsored by Husted in July, had passed the House almost unanimously in September, with Trump vowing to sign it into law, Senate Democrats denied Husted such a win on multiple occasions. Husted’s bill would have required data centers to pay for their utility bills.
Despite being a special election, with Brown having to run again in 2028 if he so wishes, this Senate race for Ohio was one of the most expensive races in recent cycles, according to AdImpact.
Husted had been in office for just under two years and touted his accomplishments, such as his work on getting the Working Families Tax Cuts passed and his focus on provisions involving school choice.
Brown had been in office for over 50 years, as Husted and his supporters, including Trump, had repeatedly reminded voters.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:56 a.m. on Wednesday.
Rebecca Downs is an Ohio correspondent for the Daily Signal.
Original article link
