Democratic candidate Sherrod Brown holds an 8-point lead over incumbent Republican Jon Husted in Ohio’s Senate race, according to a Fox News poll conducted August 6-10, 2026. The survey shows Brown at 53% support to Husted’s 45%, unchanged from a June poll.
Independent voters break sharply for Brown, with 66% backing the Democrat compared to 28% for Husted. The poll highlights affordability as the top issue for Ohio voters, with 40% citing inflation and high prices as their primary concern. Healthcare (14%) and immigration/border security (12%) follow as secondary issues.
Husted, appointed by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to fill a vacant seat, faces scrutiny over his alignment with former President Donald Trump. The poll indicates 51% of Ohio voters express concern that Husted is “too close” to Trump, regardless of their voting preference. Brown, who served in the Senate for 18 years before his 2024 defeat, draws support from 97% of Democrats but faces concerns from 44% of voters about his ties to the Democratic establishment.
The race has shifted in recent months, with the University of Virginia’s Sabato’s Crystal Ball moving the contest from “leans Republican” to “toss-up” in June. Analysts note Brown’s strong connection with Democratic voters and Husted’s need to consolidate Republican support, where 87% of GOP voters back him.
The poll also reveals broader trends in the Midwest, where Democratic Senate candidates in Ohio and Michigan face divergent levels of support among independents. In Michigan, Republican Mike Rogers leads Democrat Abdul El-Sayed by 4 points (51%-47%), with independents splitting 43%-48% in Rogers’ favor. Concerns about Trump’s influence also weigh on Michigan voters, with 58% of independents expressing unease over Rogers’ proximity to the former president.
Ohio independents, however, show greater comfort with Brown, with only 33% concerned about his ties to the Democratic establishment. The poll underscores the competitive nature of both races as voters weigh economic concerns and partisan alignments ahead of the November election.