COLUMBUS — Ohio’s nationally watched U.S. Senate race remains neck and neck as the campaign enters its final weeks, with former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown leading Republican Sen. Jon Husted 47% to 44% in a new Suffolk University/USA TODAY Ohio Network poll released Wednesday.
The survey of likely voters carries a 4.4% margin of error, making the contest a statistical dead heat. Libertarian Bill Redpath drew 2%, independent Greg Levy picked up 1%, and 6% of respondents were undecided — margins that could tip the balance on Nov. 3. A separate Marist poll showed Brown with a wider 51% to 43% lead.
Brown’s strength comes from groups that often decide Ohio elections. The Suffolk poll found him leading Husted 55% to 28% among independents, and he also ran ahead with women, non-white voters and union households. “When you add it all up, (Husted) hasn’t been able to convince people who think of themselves as independents to vote for him,” said David Paleologos, director of Suffolk’s Political Research Center. “That’s a big problem.”
Brown served 18 years in the Senate before losing to Sen. Bernie Moreno in 2024, when most polls also showed the race in a statistical tie. With control of the U.S. Senate potentially at stake, both parties are pouring resources into Ohio for the final stretch.
Some voters interviewed by the poll said they liked Brown’s record on labor and his personal approach during his years in the Senate. “I think (Brown is) definitely a person for the people and for labor,” said Lewis Pittman, a 78-year-old Democrat who lives west of Cincinnati. Others told pollsters they believe Brown already spent enough time in office and are ready for a change.
Husted’s campaign has argued that Brown’s voting record and ties to national Democrats will drag him down, while Brown’s team says his blue-collar brand and union support give him a durable edge with the working-class voters who have decided so many Ohio races before.
