Republican Senator Jon Husted of Ohio is displaying increasing confidence in his reelection campaign, bolstered by endorsements from several labor organizations that previously supported his Democratic opponent, Sherrod Brown. With the primary election scheduled for May 2026, Husted is positioning himself as a formidable candidate as he seeks to rebuild Republican strength in the state’s Senate race.
Husted’s campaign has received significant backing from labor groups, including the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66, which endorsed him on October 14, 2024. This union represents construction workers in northeastern Ohio and praised Husted for his proactive approach, stating he “leads with action, not just photo ops or political talking points.” The IUOE Local 18 and the Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council have also publicly supported Husted, signaling a shift in labor allegiance that could impact the election landscape.
In a recent interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation, Husted highlighted that Brown lost the last election to Republican Bernie Moreno by over 200,000 votes. He asserted that some of Brown’s traditional supporters are now gravitating towards his campaign, evidenced by the early labor endorsements. Husted remarked, “Part of his coalition is already peeling off and supporting us.”
Husted’s re-election bid has gained traction following an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, which helped clear the primary field. Husted is also collaborating closely with Vivek Ramaswamy, the leading candidate in the gubernatorial race, as they both aim to energize Republican voters in a year when Trump will not be on the ballot.
While Husted is gaining ground, Brown has also secured endorsements from local unions and national labor organizations aligned with the Democratic Party. The political landscape is shaping up to be competitive, especially as Brown may need to allocate resources toward fending off a challenge from entrepreneur Fred Ode, who has invested $5 million into his self-funded campaign.
Husted attributes his support from labor groups to the relationships he has fostered over more than two decades of public service, which includes stints as Ohio’s lieutenant governor and secretary of state. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between business and labor, stating, “When business and labor work together, along with public officials, we can create more jobs to grow the pie, rather than being pitted against one another fighting over pieces of the pie.”
In addition to labor endorsements, Husted has gained the support of the National Border Patrol Council, representing approximately 18,000 Customs and Border Patrol agents. The union praised Husted for his support of Trump’s border security initiatives and criticized Brown for his perceived inaction on immigration issues. Husted stated that Brown would align with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on critical votes, alleging he is “Schumer’s most reliable vote.”
As the race progresses, polling indicates a narrow lead for Husted, who is currently ahead by 2.5 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics aggregate. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report categorizes the contest as “Lean Republican,” underscoring the significance of Ohio in the Democrats’ strategy to reclaim control of the Senate in the upcoming election cycle.
The political dynamics in Ohio remain fluid as both candidates prepare for a high-stakes battle. With labor support playing a pivotal role in the outcome, the upcoming months will be crucial for Husted, Brown, and their respective campaigns as they seek to solidify their positions among voters.
