Former Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat who lost his seat just two years ago, is preparing to mount a comeback campaign in 2026, according to a new report from Axios. The move sets up another high-stakes battle in a state that has grown reliably Republican in recent years — and where Democrats have struggled to make inroads despite pouring significant resources into competitive races.
Brown, who served in the Senate for nearly two decades before his 2024 defeat, is expected to formally announce his candidacy for the special election to fill Vice President J.D. Vance’s former seat.
That seat is currently occupied by Republican Sen. John Husted, appointed to the role after Vance resigned to assume the vice presidency.
The decision comes after heavy recruitment from Democratic leadership. Axios reported last month that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, has been “in hot pursuit” of Brown, even traveling to Ohio to personally urge him to run.
The push underscores how critical party leaders view the Ohio race in their uphill fight to regain a Senate majority.
Still, Brown faces a steep climb. In 2024, he lost his re-election bid by just over 3.5 points to Republican businessman Bernie Moreno, despite running as an entrenched incumbent with name recognition statewide.
That defeat came in the same election where former President Donald J. Trump carried Ohio by more than 11 points — the widest margin for a Republican in the state since 1984. For many conservatives, those results were a clear sign that Ohio’s political identity has shifted firmly to the right.
Democrats, however, are banking on Brown’s reputation as a populist-leaning politician with deep ties to labor unions and blue-collar voters.
They believe that, even in an increasingly red state, his brand of politics could narrow the gap enough to make the race competitive — especially in a lower-turnout special election year.
Brown’s candidacy marks another recruitment win for Democrats, who have also convinced former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to run for an open U.S. Senate seat in his state.
Cooper, a two-term governor who has won six statewide races, is viewed by Democrats as their best shot at flipping the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
For Republicans, the Ohio race will be about defending a seat in a state they have dominated in recent cycles, while also showcasing the strength of their bench.
With an appointed incumbent in Husted and the momentum of Moreno’s 2024 victory, the GOP enters the contest with a structural advantage.
The 2026 Senate map already promises to be a defining test for both parties, but in Ohio, the dynamics are clear: Democrats are betting that Sherrod Brown can overcome the state’s deepening red tilt, while Republicans are confident that the trends that carried Trump and Moreno to decisive wins will hold.
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