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2026 United States Senate special election in Ohio
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The 2026 United States Senate special election in Ohio will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Ohio. Republican appointee Jon Husted and Democratic former senator Sherrod Brown are the respective nominees for their parties. The winner will complete the term won in 2022 by JD Vance, who resigned in 2025 to become vice president.
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November 3, 2026
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Seeking to keep the seat after his appointment, Husted ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. Brown, who represented Ohio in the Senate for three terms until his defeat in 2024, won the Democratic nomination against minimal opposition.
This will be the first U.S. Senate special election in Ohio since 1954.
Background
After voting for President Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012, Ohio has trended increasingly Republican in subsequent years and is now considered a moderate to strong red state at the federal and state level. Republicans control all statewide offices, majorities in both chambers of the state legislature, and hold both Senate seats. Republicans also have a majority of the state's House delegation with ten seats compared to five for Democrats.[2]
Republican nominee Donald Trump won Ohio in 2016 and 2020 by 8 percentage points, and in 2024 grew his margin to 11 percentage points.[3] Additionally, Republican JD Vance, now the vice president of the United States, defeated Democrat Tim Ryan in the 2022 U.S. Senate election by slightly over 6 points, while Republican Bernie Moreno defeated then-incumbent Sherrod Brown in the 2024 U.S. Senate election by slightly over 3.5 points.[4]
Interim appointment
According to Ohio law, if a U.S. Senate seat becomes vacant, the governor appoints a replacement who serves until December 15 following the next regularly scheduled statewide election that occurs more than 180 days after the vacancy. A special election to fill the remainder of the term is then held concurrently with that regular state election, which in this case would be the one on November 3, 2026.[5][6] Governor Mike DeWine chose then-Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted to replace Vance in the Senate.
Appointee
- Jon Husted, lieutenant governor of Ohio (2019–2025)[7]
Considered but not appointed
- Matt Dolan, former state senator from the 24th district (2017–2024) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022 and 2024[8]
- Frank LaRose, Ohio secretary of state (2019–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024[8]
- Vivek Ramaswamy, former CEO of Roivant Sciences (2014–2023) and candidate for president in 2024[8]
- Jane Timken, former chair of the Ohio Republican Party (2017–2021) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2022[8]
Declined to be considered
- Mike DeWine, governor of Ohio (2019–present) and former U.S. senator (1995–2007)[9]
- Dave Yost, Ohio attorney general (2019–2026)[10] (ran for governor, later withdrew)[11]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Jon Husted, incumbent U.S. senator (2025–present)[12]
Endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- Donald Trump, president of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)[13]
- U.S. senators
- Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming (2021–present)[14]
- Bernie Moreno, Ohio (2025–present)[15]
- Tim Scott, South Carolina (2013–present)[15]
- U.S. representatives
- Jim Jordan, OH-04 (2007–present)[15]
- Bob Latta, OH-05 (2007–present)[16]
- David Taylor, OH-02 (2025–present)[17]
- Statewide officials
- Keith Faber, auditor of state of Ohio (2019–present)[18]
- Frank LaRose, secretary of state of Ohio (2019–present)[15]
- Robert Sprague, treasurer of Ohio (2019–present)[19]
- Dave Yost, attorney general of Ohio (2019–2026)[20]
- State legislators
- Ohio Senate Republican Caucus[21]
- More than half of the Ohio House of Representatives (including Speaker Matt Huffman and members such as Kellie Deeter, Gayle Manning, and D. J. Swearingen)[22]
- Local officials
- Individuals
- Vivek Ramaswamy, founder of Roivant Sciences and 2026 gubernatorial nominee[25]
- Labor unions
- Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio[26]
- Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council[27]
- Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio[28]
- International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Local 85, Local 105, and Local 744[29]
- International Union of Operating Engineers Locals 18 & 66[30][31]
- National Border Patrol Council[32]
- Northwest Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council[33]
- Organizations
- AIPAC[34]
- ClearPath Foundation[35]
- National Federation of Independent Business[36]
- Ohio Cattlemen's Association[37]
- Ohio Chamber of Commerce[38]
- Ohio Right to Life[39]
- Party chapters
- Columbiana County Republican Party[40]
- Pickaway County Republican Party[41]
- Pike County Republican Party[42]
- Warren County Republican Party[43]
- Political parties
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of April 18, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Jon Husted (R) | $10,257,823 | $2,017,868 | $8,239,954 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[45] | |||
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jon Husted (incumbent) | 736,413 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 736,413 | 100.0 | ||
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Sherrod Brown, former U.S. senator (2007–2025)[47]
Eliminated in primary
- Ron Kincaid, IT professional and Special Olympics coach[48]
Withdrawn
Declined
- Shontel Brown, U.S. representative from Ohio's 11th congressional district (2021–present) (running for re-election)[53]
- Greg Landsman, U.S. representative from Ohio's 1st congressional district (2023–present) (running for re-election)[54]
- Tim Ryan, former U.S. representative from Ohio's 13th congressional district (2003–2023), nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022, and candidate for president in 2020[55]
- Emilia Sykes, U.S. representative from Ohio's 13th congressional district (2023–present) (running for re-election)[53]
- Casey Weinstein, state senator from the 28th district (2025–present)[56]
Endorsements
- Political parties
- Labor unions
- Actors' Equity Association[58]
- American Federation of Government Employees[59]
- Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters[30]
- Communications Workers of America, District 4[60]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers[61]
- International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers[62]
- International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 23[63]
- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades[b][64]
- Ohio AFL-CIO[65]
- Ohio Federation of Teachers[66]
- Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters[67]
- Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Local 390[68]
- United Association[69]
- United Auto Workers[70]
- United Food and Commercial Workers, Locals 75, 880, and 1059[71]
- United Steelworkers[72]
- Organizations
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.
| Campaign finance reports as of April 18, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Sherrod Brown (D) | $24,471,408 | $7,956,946 | $16,514,461 |
| Ron Kincaid (D) | $41,804 | $42,980 | $0 |
| Chris Volpe (D) | $4,337 | $4,168 | $168 |
| Fred Ode (D) | $5,001,938 | $4,970,194 | $31,744 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[45] | |||
Results
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- 90–100%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Sherrod Brown | 712,106 | 89.4 | |
| Democratic | Ron Kincaid | 84,405 | 10.6 | |
| Total votes | 796,511 | 100.0 | ||
Libertarian primary
Former Libertarian National Committee chair William Redpath is running as a Libertarian.[83] Health care consultant Jeffrey Kanter was disqualified from the Libertarian primary due to a protest by Ohio Libertarian Kristen Wichers, who demonstrated that Kanter submitted hundreds of invalid signatures with his candidate petition.[84]
Candidates
Nominee
- Bill Redpath, former Libertarian National Committee chair and nominee for 2022 United States Senate election in Illinois[85]
Disqualified
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libertarian | Bill Redpath | 4,996 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 4,996 | 100.0 | ||
Other third-party and independent candidates
Greg Levy, a veteran and community organiser, announced his candidacy in October 2025.[88][89] A member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), he filed with the Federal Election Commission as an independent candidate.[89][90] Levy is one of two PSL candidates standing in the 2026 US Senate elections, the other being Joe Tache in Massachusetts.[91]
General election
Data centers have become a major issue in the campaign, and a poll from Bowling Green State University showed 71% of Ohioans support a temporary ban on new construction of data centers. Brown has criticized Husted for his support of data centers in the past. As lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2025, Husted backed millions of dollars in tax breaks for data center construction projects in Ohio. Husted has defended data centers, saying they bring new jobs and money to rural areas. Husted has described data centers as a "local issue", and Brown has said that the approval of data centers should be decided on the local level.[92]
A September 2026 poll conducted by Bowling Green State University found that 25% of likely Ohio voters incorrectly believed Sherrod Brown was the incumbent U.S. senator from the state, despite him having lost re-election in 2024.[93][non-primary source needed]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| CBS News[94] | Tossup | September 13, 2026 |
| The Cook Political Report[95] | Tossup | September 23, 2026 |
| Decision Desk HQ[96] | Tossup | October 2, 2026 |
| The Economist[97][c] | Lean D (flip) | October 3, 2026 |
| FiftyPlusOne[98] | Lean D (flip) | October 3, 2026 |
| Fox News[99] | Tossup | September 22, 2026 |
| Inside Elections[100] | Tossup | October 1, 2026 |
| RealClearPolitics[101] | Tossup | September 24, 2026 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[102] | Tossup | September 22, 2026 |
| Silver Bulletin[103] | Lean D (flip) | October 3, 2026 |
| Split Ticket[104] | Lean D (flip) | October 2, 2026 |
Post-primary endorsements
- Executive branch officials
- George W. Bush, former president of the United States (2001–2009)[105]
- JD Vance, vice president of the United States (2025–present)[106]
- U.S. senators
- John Cornyn, Texas (2002–present)[105]
- Organizations
- Labor unions
- Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters[113]
- Ohio Conference of Teamsters[114]
- Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association[115]
- Statewide officials
- John Kasich, former governor of Ohio (2011–2019) (Republican)[116]
Fundraising
| Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Jon Husted (R) | $14,360,028 | $4,940,716 | $9,419,311 |
| Sherrod Brown (D) | $38,566,234 | $22,336,493 | $16,229,741 |
| William Redpath (L) | $24,200 | $23,470 | $730 |
| Greg Levy (I) | $80,348 | $56,132 | $25,971 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission[117] | |||
Polling
Aggregate polls
| Source of poll aggregation |
Dates administered |
Dates updated |
Jon Husted (R) |
Sherrod Brown (D) |
Other/ |
Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 270toWin[118] | September 21 – October 1, 2026 | October 3, 2026 | 44.6% | 47.6% | 7.8% | Brown +3.0% |
| Decision Desk HQ[119] | through October 1, 2026 | October 6, 2026 | 43.5% | 46.1% | 10.4% | Brown +2.6% |
| FiftyPlusOne[120] | through October 1, 2026 | October 6, 2026 | 44.1% | 48.2% | 7.7% | Brown +4.1% |
| RealClearPolitics[121] | September 1 – October 1, 2026 | October 6, 2026 | 44.1% | 47.3% | 8.6% | Brown +3.2% |
| Silver Bulletin[103] | through October 1, 2026 | October 3, 2026 | 44.1% | 48.3% | 7.6% | Brown +3.8% |
| Average | 44.1% | 47.5% | 8.4% | Brown +3.4% | ||
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[e] |
Margin of error |
Jon Husted (R) |
Sherrod Brown (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Times/Siena University[122] | September 22 – October 1, 2026 | 616 (LV) | ± 4.5% | 46% | 49% | — | 5% |
| YouGov[123] | September 18–30, 2026 | 3,780 (LV) | ± 2.5% | 45% | 49% | 2% | 4% |
| InsiderAdvantage (R)[124] | September 28–29, 2026 | 1,200 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 43% | 44% | 6%[f] | 7% |
| Big Data Poll (R)[125][A] | September 26–27, 2026 | 680 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 43%[g] | 46% | — | — |
| 41% | 46% | 8%[h] | 6% | ||||
| 735 (RV) | 41%[g] | 45% | — | — | |||
| 40% | 44% | 8%[h] | 8% | ||||
| Marist University[126] | September 24–27, 2026 | 1,298 (RV) | ± 3.8% | 43% | 51% | 1% | 4% |
| Suffolk University[127][B] | September 23–27, 2026 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 44% | 47% | 3%[i] | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports (R)[128] | September 22–23, 2026 | 1,115 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 43% | 46% | 5%[j] | 7% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[129] | September 21–23, 2026 | 695 (LV) | ± 4.2% | 47%[g] | 47% | 4%[k] | 2% |
| 45% | 46% | 4%[l] | 6% | ||||
| Trafalgar Group (R)[130] | September 14–16, 2026 | 1,085 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 42% | 45% | 6% | 6% |
| Bowling Green State University/YouGov[131] | September 1–10, 2026 | 1,000 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 48% | 7%[m] | — |
| InsiderAdvantage (R)[132] | September 8–9, 2026 | 1,200 (LV) | ± 2.8% | 42% | 47% | 3%[n] | 8% |
| Abacus Data[133] | August 26–28, 2026 | 306 (LV) | — | 46% | 52% | 3%[n] | — |
| 500 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 43% | 53% | 5%[o] | — | ||
| Wedgewood Polls[134] | August 11–13, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 44% | 48% | — | 8% |
| Beacon Research (D)/ Shaw & Co. Research (R)[135][C] |
August 6–10, 2026 | 1,008 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 45% | 53% | — | 2% |
| Tulchin Research (D)[136][D] | July 29 – August 4, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 43% | 47% | 4%[p] | 6% |
| New York Times/Siena University[137] | June 15–28, 2026 | 601 (LV) | ± 4.7% | 50% | 47% | — | 3% |
| Fabrizio Ward (R)/ Impact Research (D)[138][E] |
June 14–16, 2026 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 45% | 48% | 1%[q] | 7% |
| Tulchin Research (D)[139][D] | June 2–4, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 42% | 46% | 4%[r] | 7% |
| Beacon Research (D)/ Shaw & Co. Research (R)[140][C] |
May 28 – June 1, 2026 | 1,015 (RV) | ± 3.0% | 45% | 53% | — | 2% |
| Primary elections are held | |||||||
| Bowling Green State University/YouGov[141] | April 7–14, 2026 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 50% | 47% | 3%[s] | — |
| Echelon Insights (R)[142][t] | April 3–9, 2026 | 413 (LV) | ± 5.8% | 51% | 45% | — | 4% |
| Quantus Insights (R)[143] | March 13–14, 2026 | 784 (LV) | ± 3.8% | 46% | 44% | 4%[u] | 6% |
| OnMessage Public Strategies (R)[144][F] | March 3–8, 2026 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 47% | — | 8% |
| EMC Research (D)[145][G] | February 10–22, 2026 | 1,343 (LV) | ± 2.7% | 47% | 51% | — | 2% |
| Emerson College[146] | December 6–8, 2025 | 850 (RV) | ± 3.3% | 49% | 46% | — | 5% |
| Bowling Green State University/YouGov[147] | October 2–14, 2025 | 800 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 48% | 49% | 3%[s] | — |
| Hart Research (D)[148][H] | September 19–22, 2025 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 45% | 48% | — | 7% |
| Emerson College[149] | August 18–19, 2025 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 3% | 50% | 44% | — | 7% |
| Bowling Green State University/YouGov[150] | April 18–24, 2025 | 800 (RV) | ± 4.1% | 49% | 46% | 5%[v] | — |
| Bowling Green State University/YouGov[151] | February 14–21, 2025 | 800 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 47% | 41% | — | 12% |
Jon Husted vs. Tim Ryan
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[e] |
Margin of error |
Jon Husted (R) |
Tim Ryan (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green State University/YouGov[150] | April 18–24, 2025 | 800 (RV) | ± 4.1% | 50% | 44% | 6%[w] | — |
| Bowling Green State University/YouGov[151] | February 14–21, 2025 | 800 (RV) | ± 4.0% | 45% | 38% | — | 17% |
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jon Husted (incumbent) | ||||
| Democratic | Sherrod Brown | ||||
| Libertarian | Bill Redpath | ||||
| Independent | Greg Levy | ||||
| Write-in | |||||
| Total votes | 100.0 | ||||
See also
Notes
- JD Vance was elected vice president of the United States in the 2024 presidential election. He resigned his Senate seat on January 10, 2025.[1] Governor Mike DeWine appointed Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted as an interim successor.
- IUPAT International issued the endorsement with the support of IUPAT District Council 6 and IUPAT District Council 53.
- The Economist's prediction model uses unconventional terminology. For the purpose of equivalency, their "Very Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Likely" rating while "Likely" ratings are formatted as a "Lean" rating.
- Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
- Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - William Redpath (L) with 4%; Greg Levy (I) with 2%
- With voters who lean towards a given candidate
- "Someone else" with 8%
- Bill Redpath (L) with 2%; Greg Levy (I) with 1%
- Bill Redpath (L) with 3%; Greg Levy (I) with 2%
- Greg Levy (I) with 2%; Bill Redpath (L) with 1%
- Greg Levy (I) with 2%; Bill Redpath (L) with 1%
- Greg Levy (I) with 3%; William Redpath (L) and "Someone else" with 2%
- "Another candidate" with 3%
- "Another candidate" with 5%
- William Redpath (L) and Greg Levy (I) with 2%
- "Someone else" with 1%
- William Redpath (L) with 4%
- "Someone else" with 3%
- "Some other candidate" with 4%
- "Someone else" with 5%
- "Someone else" with 6%
Partisan clients
- Poll sponsored by the Public Polling Project
- Poll conducted for John Kulewicz, Democratic candidate for Attorney General
- Poll sponsored by the Insurance Watchdog Coalition
- Polling commissioned by Ohio Environmental Council, an environmental organization
- Poll sponsored by the Ohio Federation of Teachers, which supports Brown