Former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown has been projected to win Ohio’s special Senate election, defeating Republican Jon Husted, according to the Fox News Decision Desk. The Associated Press and CNN also called the race for Brown, who will serve the remainder of the term originally won by Vice President JD Vance.
Brown’s victory marks his return to the Senate two years after he lost his seat to Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno in the 2024 general election. Husted, a former Ohio lieutenant governor and secretary of state, was appointed to the seat in January 2025 by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine following Vance’s resignation to join the Trump administration.
Key developments
- Brown received 48.5% of the vote compared to Husted’s 46.6%, with 88% of ballots counted.
- The race was held to fill the final two years of a six-year term Vance won in 2022 before resigning.
- Ohio’s special election was viewed as a critical battleground in the fight for Senate control, with Republicans holding a 53-47 majority.
Election dynamics and turnout
Voters in Ohio cast ballots to determine who would serve through January 2029. The contest unfolded amid broader political shifts in the state, which has trended Republican in recent presidential elections. Former President Donald Trump carried Ohio by 11.2 percentage points in 2024, a margin cited by both parties in framing the race’s significance.
Senate implications
Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to secure a majority, as Vance’s resignation had temporarily reduced the GOP’s advantage. Brown’s win in Ohio is one of several recent flips for Democrats, who have also gained seats in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Texas. The Ohio result narrows the GOP’s Senate majority and could influence legislative dynamics during the lame-duck session.
Candidate backgrounds
Sherrod Brown, a Democrat first elected to the Senate in 2006, previously served in the U.S. House and as Ohio’s secretary of state. Jon Husted, a Republican, had held statewide office as lieutenant governor and secretary of state before his appointment to the Senate.
Next steps
The final certification of results by Ohio officials will determine the official timeline for Brown’s swearing-in. His potential early arrival in Washington could alter the Senate’s voting balance before the new Congress convenes in January 2025.