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Democrats flip JD Vance’s old Senate seat blue in major Ohio upset stripping away Trump’s power
Sherrod Brown has won Ohio’s special Senate election, defeating Republican Jon Husted and returning to the chamber after losing his seat in 2024. The result gives Democrats a key victory in their effort to regain control of the Senate, though Brown’s term lasts only two years before he must defend the seat again.
With 90 per cent of votes counted, Brown had 48.5 per cent to Husted’s 46.5 per cent. Donald Trump endorsed Husted and campaigned for him in a state he had carried by about 11 points in 2024; more than $500 million was spent or reserved for advertising in the race. Brown criticised Husted over tax incentives for data centres and the FirstEnergy bribery scandal, while Democrat Amy Acton also won the governor’s race, defeating Vivek Ramaswamy.
In short
- Sherrod Brown won Ohio’s special Senate election.
- Brown led Husted 48.5 per cent to 46.5 per cent.
- Democrat Amy Acton also won Ohio’s governor’s race.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Brown’s win can be seen as a meaningful check on Republican power and a sign that Ohio voters wanted a senator willing to challenge corporate tax incentives and demand accountability over the FirstEnergy scandal. Democrats may argue that electing him gives the Senate a stronger voice for working people and makes the next two years more responsive to voters, even if the margin is narrow.
The case against
Husted’s supporters could argue that voters chose a candidate with executive experience and a record of working within Ohio’s Republican leadership, while Brown’s return risks giving Democrats more influence in the Senate without a clear mandate from a state Trump carried decisively in 2024. They may also see the short term and close result as grounds for caution about treating one special election as a lasting shift in Ohio’s politics.