Sherrod Brown launches Senate comeback bid in Ohio [View all]

Source: Roll Call

Posted August 18, 2025 at 8:06am


Democrat Sherrod Brown, the gravelly-voiced Democrat known for his rumpled suits and working-class values, is seeking a return to the Senate after losing his reelection bid last year.

“Standing up for workers. Treating everyone with dignity and respect. Working as hard as possible for the people of Ohio. I’ve tried to live my life by those principles. But these days that’s not what’s happening in Washington,” Brown said in announcement video shared Monday on X.

The announcement provided a jolt of good news to Democrats, who face a challenging map as they try to regain control of the Senate. Republicans head into the 2026 midterm elections holding 53 seats in the chamber. Just three races — North Carolina, Georgia and Michigan — are currently rated as Toss-ups by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales. But two of those seats are currently held by Democrats. Even if Democrats win all three Toss-up races, it would only result in a net gain of one seat and still leave Republicans in charge.

But the picture for Democrats brightened considerably last month, after former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for the Tar Heel State’s open seat. Brown’s candidacy represents another cause for Democratic optimism. Following the news that Brown was entering the race, Inside Elections shifted its rating from Solid Republican to Lean Republican.

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2025/08/18/sherrod-brown-launches-senate-comeback-bid-in-ohio/

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