Democrat Sherrod Brown wins Ohio Senate race in major blow to Republicans

Democrat Sherrod Brown has defeated Republican Jon Husted in Ohio’s special Senate election, returning to the seat he held for 18 years before losing it in 2024. The result is a significant Republican setback and brings Democrats closer to regaining control of the Senate, while testing whether they can win back working-class and rural voters.

The contest was for the final two years of the term JD Vance won in 2022; Ohio’s governor appointed Husted after Vance became vice-president. Brown campaigned on lowering living costs and criticised the Iran war, tariffs and data centre development, saying he would put working people before corporations. He also pledged to pursue a ban on congressional stock trading, while Husted conceded and said Americans should work to improve the country.