Poll Shows Jon Husted Leading Sherrod Brown in Ohio

A new survey finds Jon Husted holding a narrow edge over Sherrod Brown in the competitive Ohio Senate race.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Elections

Poll Shows Jon Husted Leading Sherrod Brown in Ohio

Live Poll

Do current polling shifts make you more likely to vote in the upcoming Senate election?

Recent polling from ActiVote indicates Jon Husted is leading Sherrod Brown 50.2 percent to 49.8 percent. The survey, which focused on likely voters, suggests a dead heat in the contest for the Ohio Senate seat.

Why it matters

The survey highlights the volatility of the race as candidates compete to sway the electorate in a state that has trended Republican in recent cycles. Voters are closely watching these shifting margins to gauge the potential outcome for control of the Senate.

The ActiVote survey of 400 likely voters shows a 0.4-point lead for Jon Husted with a 4.9-point margin of error. Other recent surveys, including those from CNN and The New York Times, have previously shown Sherrod Brown with varying leads.

The players

Jon Husted

He currently holds the U.S. Senate seat in Ohio by appointment from the state governor.

Sherrod Brown

He is a former U.S. Senator who lost his seat to Bernie Moreno during the 2024 election cycle.

Mike DeWine

He serves as the Governor of Ohio and appointed Jon Husted to the current Senate vacancy.

Bernie Moreno

He defeated Sherrod Brown for the Ohio U.S. Senate seat in the 2024 election.

The details

Jon Husted currently holds the Senate seat through an appointment made by Governor Mike DeWine. The race follows the 2024 election cycle in which Sherrod Brown lost his previous Senate seat to Bernie Moreno.

September 26 - October 18: ActiVote survey field dates.
October 8: Release of CNN polling data.
October 14: Rasmussen Reports polling date.
2024: Sherrod Brown lost his Senate seat to Bernie Moreno.

Political Context

This race follows the political trajectory set by the 2024 U.S. Senate race between Sherrod Brown and Bernie Moreno. Critics of the current polling argue that recent trends fail to account for the impact of turnout operations that often favor long-term incumbents.

The results of this Senate race will directly impact residents by determining who represents the state on federal legislation and judicial confirmations. Voters should track these shifting polling figures to understand the competitiveness of their district ahead of election day.

The takeaway

The narrow margin between the candidates underscores that every vote will likely be decisive in this contest. Citizens should continue monitoring verified polling averages to stay informed on the race as election day approaches.