Ohio Senate Poll Shows Tight Race, Warning Sign for Iowa Republicans

A new AARP poll shows former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown leading Republican Senator Jon Husted by just 3 points in the Ohio Senate race, signaling that Democrats are mounting serious challenges in reliably red states. The outcome in Ohio could have direct implications for Iowa, where Republicans face similar pressures to defend a Senate seat in a state Trump won by double digits.

What the New Ohio Poll Reveals

The AARP survey of 800 likely voters, conducted June 14 through 16, found Brown at 48 percent and Husted at 45 percent. Neither candidate broke the 50 percent threshold, indicating a race that remains highly competitive heading into the November midterms.

Brown lost his reelection bid in 2024 but is attempting a political comeback. Husted was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance. The margin of error for the poll is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, meaning the race falls within a statistical tie.

The same poll also found Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton at 47 percent, leading Republican Vivek Ramaswamy at 44 percent.

Husted Campaign Pushes Back on Poll Results

Amy Natoce, a spokesperson for the Husted campaign, dismissed the poll as a snapshot that will shift throughout the summer.