‘The decline of the Democratic Party in Ohio is evident’
Sherrod Brown faces uphill battle to win back Senate seat
David Skolnick, Reporter
Tribune Chronicle
August 15, 2025
Democrat Sherrod Brown plans to run next year for the U.S. Senate, where he served for 18 years before losing in 2024.
He faces an uphill challenge.
…
The state hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since Ted Strickland in 2006. As one Democratic strategist astutely said to me: “We’ve been in the desert about half the time that Moses was in it.”
…
As it has been for several years, 2026 is going to be difficult for Democrats to win in Ohio, a solid Republican state.
Brown lost last year to Republican Bernie Moreno by 3.6%.
…
Brown saw his support erode after beating Republican Mike DeWine, then the incumbent senator, in 2006 — a very successful election year for Democrats. He won in 2006 by 12.3%, by 6% in 2012 and by 6.8% in 2018 with the latter election against a weaker Republican opponent.
…
The decline of the Democratic Party in Ohio is evident in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
The two counties were reliable Democratic strongholds for 80-plus years until Trump ran for president in 2016.
Trump won Trumbull in 2016, 2020 and 2024. He won Mahoning in 2020 and 2024 and nearly won it in 2016.
…
Brown went from getting 73.5% of the Mahoning County vote in 2006 to 48.3% last year.
It was even worse in Trumbull. Brown received 73.1% of the county’s vote in 2006 to 45.2% last year.
Brown won’t have Trump on the ballot in 2026, but Husted has been loyal to the president since his January appointment by DeWine and has Trump’s endorsement. Husted is a former lieutenant governor, secretary of state and Ohio House speaker.
…
Read more here.
###