COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is set to run for the U.S. Senate in Ohio in 2026, aiming to reclaim the seat he lost to Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno in 2024, according to multiple sources familiar with his plans. Brown, 72, will face off against Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to replace Vice President JD Vance earlier this year.
Brown’s decision follows his narrow defeat to Moreno in 2024 by about 3.5 percentage points in one of the nation’s most expensive non-presidential races, with combined spending exceeding $470 million. The former senator, a longtime advocate for Ohio’s working class, is expected to capitalize on his strong ties to unions and blue-collar workers to challenge Husted in a state that has trended increasingly Republican.
In southern Ohio, Republians and Moreno have faced scrutiny for their handling of the Mead Papermill factory in Chillicothe. Earlier this year, Moreno claimed credit for saving the facility from closure, announcing it would remain operational at least until December, saving nearly 1,000 jobs. However, the plant’s owner, H.I.G. Capital, abruptly closed the facility earlier this week, leaving workers and local leaders frustrated. Moreno has not returned to Chillicothe in recent weeks, a point Brown’s campaign is likely to highlight as it seeks to rally support among the region’s blue-collar workforce.
“Sherrod Brown has always been a fighter for Ohio’s workers, and he’s ready to hold Republicans accountable for broken promises like the Mead closure,” said a source close to Brown’s campaign, speaking on condition of anonymity as plans are finalized.
Brown, first elected to the Senate in 2006, has a history of appealing to union members and blue-collar voters across party lines. In 2024, he outperformed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris by 117,250 votes in Ohio, despite losing to Moreno. His campaign is expected to emphasize economic issues, including job losses and the dignity of work, a theme central to the nonprofit he launched earlier this year, the Dignity of Work Institute.
Husted, a former lieutenant governor and secretary of state, has aligned himself closely with President Donald Trump’s agenda since taking office. He supported a budget bill that slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid while increasing the child tax credit and cutting taxes for high earners. Husted’s campaign, backed by Trump, is already preparing to counter Brown, with the National Republican Senatorial Committee projecting confidence in Husted’s ability to win in 2026.
Recent polls show a close race, with a YouGov/Bowling Green State University survey from April indicating Husted leading Brown 49% to 46%. Analysts suggest the 2026 midterm election, without Trump on the ballot, could favor Democrats, potentially shifting Ohio’s Senate race from “Likely Republican” to a toss-up.
Brown’s campaign is already interviewing managers to prepare for the race, signaling a serious bid to reclaim the seat. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who visited Ohio twice this summer to recruit Brown, sees the former senator as a key figure in Democrats’ efforts to flip the Senate in 2026.
The special election, set for Nov. 3, 2026, will determine who serves the remainder of Vance’s term through 2028. The winner will face re-election two years later.