Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown locked in dead-heat race for Ohio Senate seat, new poll finds
A new poll shows Republican Sen. Jon Husted and Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown virtually tied in Ohio’s Senate contest, a widely watched race drawing national attention. According to reports, the Ohio seat, the contest for which has widely been rated a toss-up, could end up deciding who wins control of the upper chamber of Congress.
Jon Husted, Sherrod Brown tied in ‘dead heat’ race
In a new Quantus Insights survey, Brown received 45.6% support among 695 likely voters surveyed September 21-23, compared with 45.3% for Husted — a gap of just 0.3 percentage points — meaning the two candidates are statistically tied.
Among other candidates, independent Greg Levy received 2% and Libertarian Bill Redpath received 1.1% of the vote. Brown’s advantage was particularly pronounced among unaffiliated voters, where he led 51% to 34%, according to the poll.
Earlier surveys differ in outcome
The Quantus poll results follow several other polls that produced different margins. InsiderAdvantage’s September 8-9 survey of 1,200 likely voters gave Brown an advantage, with 47.3% of the votes, compared to Husted’s 41.9%. An August Fox News poll of 1,008 registered voters also put Brown ahead, 53% to 45%. However, an earlier The New York Times/Siena University poll conducted June 15-28 showed Husted leading Brown 50% to 47% among 601 likely voters.
Jon Husted breaks with Donald Trump on Iran
The latest poll follows Husted’s recent break with President Donald Trump on the war in Iran. Husted called for the conflict to end quickly, citing the effect on fuel prices. “The war needs to come to an end as quickly as possible so that we can lower gas prices,” Husted told Politico on Tuesday, September 22.
The Ohio contest is a special election after Husted was appointed to the Senate seat previously held by Vice President J.D. Vance. Brown, who lost reelection in 2024, is seeking to return to the Senate. That same year, Trump carried Ohio by about 11.2 points.
Crypto-backed super PAC funnels money into Ohio Senate race
According to reports, the race has attracted substantial spending from the cryptocurrency industry. The crypto-backed super PAC Fairshake is set to spend at least $30 million against Brown in November, according to The New York Times, following Senate Democrats’ opposition to a procedural vote on the Trump-backed CLARITY Act, which would create a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets.
Brown’s campaign manager Patrick Eisenhauer said Husted is “for sale and the billionaires and corporations pouring millions into this race know it.” In a statement to Newsweek, Eisenhauer said, “Of course the special interests are panicking, they know Sherrod will fight the rigged system they’re feasting on to stand up for working Ohioans.”
Husted’s office, meanwhile, defended his position on the legislation. “Sen. Husted believes that, if the U.S., not China, is going to lead in global banking and digital assets, the U.S. needs a framework that is clear, practical and supports innovation and job creation here at home,” press secretary Olivia Tripodi said, adding that Husted was disappointed Senate Democrats blocked the measure.