Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown is leading incumbent Republican Senator Jon Husted by 8 points in the race for Ohio’s Senate seat, according to a recent Fox News poll released on Wednesday. Brown, who completed three terms in the Senate, is seeking a return to Capitol Hill after his 2024 loss to Republican Bernie Moreno. Husted, who became a senator in January 2025 after JD Vance’s ascent to the vice presidency, will challenge Brown in the upcoming election.

The poll indicates that Brown holds 53 percent of the hypothetical vote, while Husted has 45 percent among Ohio registered voters. Both campaigns have been contacted for comments.

Candidate Standings

Both Brown and Husted secured nominations during last month’s primary election in Ohio. The poll shows that Husted has a favorability rating of 41 percent, with an unfavorable rating of 50 percent. In contrast, Brown’s favorability stands at 53 percent, with a 44 percent unfavorable rating.

President Donald Trump’s approval rating is lower, with a 42 percent favorability and a 57 percent unfavorable rating. These numbers reflect a significant decline from a previous poll in November 2024, where Trump’s favorability was 52 percent compared to 46 percent unfavorable.

Poll Details

The Fox News poll surveyed 1,015 Ohio registered voters between May 28 and June 1, presenting a margin of error of 3 percent.

Within the Democratic party, Brown enjoys 98 percent support, while Husted has 86 percent backing from Republicans. Interestingly, 13 percent of Republicans are inclined to support Brown, whereas only 2 percent of Democrats support Husted. The Cook Political Report rates the Ohio Senate race, alongside those in Maine and Michigan, as a “toss-up.”

Social Media Disputes

Both candidates have engaged in exchanges on social media. A message from Team Husted on X criticized Brown’s long tenure, questioning his achievements. It read, “Sherrod Brown was elected to office in 1974. He was in Washington for 32 years. Yet he can’t name one accomplishment from his time in office. That’s why he’s resorted to lying in his campaign ads.”

In response, Brown posted, “Gas prices went up, but your commute didn’t get shorter. Health care premiums doubled, but your doctor isn’t charging less. Groceries cost more than ever, but your family still needs dinner on the table. But Jon Husted says affordability isn’t a problem in Ohio. Jon Husted created this crisis, he’ll never fix it.”

Additional Polls

A Bowling Green State University/YouGov survey conducted before the primary showed Husted leading with 50 percent of the hypothetical vote versus Brown’s 47 percent, with 3 percent opting for alternative candidates. The survey included 1,000 Ohio registered voters from April 7 to April 14 and had a margin of error of 3.88 percent.

Moreover, a NetChoice poll by Echelon Insights last month indicated Husted holding 51 percent compared to Brown’s 45 percent. This survey involved 413 Ohio voters from April 3 to April 9 and presented a margin of error of 5.8 percent.