Ohio voters are leaning toward former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown in the upcoming Senate race, according to a Fox News poll of likely voters conducted Oct. 15‑19, 2026. Brown leads appointed Republican Senator Jon Husted 52% to 47%.
Favorability and Gender Gap
Brown enjoys a modest favorability edge, with 50% of respondents rating him favorable versus 48% unfavorable. Husted trails with 42% favorable and 55% unfavorable, putting him 13 points underwater. Women favor Brown by 14 points, while men give Husted a 4‑point edge, creating an 18‑point gender gap that benefits the challenger.
Economic Concerns Drive Voter Sentiment
Financial worries are a major factor. About 46% of voters say their household finances are worse than two years ago, compared with 19% who say they are better. Those feeling the pinch favor Brown by 49 points, while those reporting stable or improved finances lean toward Husted.
President Trump’s Standing in Ohio
President Trump, who carried Ohio with 55% in 2024, now has a 43% approval rating in the state, with 57% disapproving. While this low approval adds a hurdle for Husted, it also underscores the importance of the administration’s economic agenda for Ohio families.
Cross‑Over Support and Voter Intensity
Partisan crossover is limited: 9% of Republicans say they would back Brown, while 2% of Democrats would support Husted. Brown captures independents by nearly a two‑to‑one margin. Among voters who are extremely interested in the election, Brown leads by 9 points; among those who have already voted, his lead widens to 29 points.
Broader Political Landscape
Legislative preferences in Ohio remain close, with 50% favoring Democratic control of the U.S. Senate and 48% favoring Republican control. In the governor’s race, Democrat Amy Acton leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy 50% to 48%, with a similar gender gap to the Senate contest.
The poll surveyed 2,005 registered Ohio voters, with a margin of error of ±2 points for the likely‑voter subsample of 1,592. Results were weighted to reflect age, race, education, and area demographics.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
