Sherrod Brown Defeats Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio Senate Race, Flipping Seat for Democrats
Photo: CBS NewsDemocrat Sherrod Brown won Ohio's U.S. Senate special election on Tuesday, defeating Republican Sen. Jon Husted and flipping the seat for Democrats, according to Associated Press projections and a CBS News projection. Brown, 73, lost to Republican Bernie Moreno by about four points in 2024 after more than three decades in the House and Senate. Husted, 59, a former lieutenant governor and secretary of state, was appointed in early 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance. With 85% of votes counted, Brown had 48.4% to Husted's 46.7%, per the AP. Brown will serve the remainder of Vance's term, which runs to January 2029. More than $500 million was spent on advertising, making it the second most expensive race of this midterm cycle, according to The Hill. Brown criticized Husted over AI data centers and energy costs, and cast him as too close to billionaires. Republicans tried to frame Brown as a longtime Washington figure. No senator since 1988 has returned after losing reelection.
The right-leaning New York Post and The Blaze lead with the result. The Post's flippant headline frames it as a revenge win, gives the AP vote shares, and features Brown's remarks naming Peter Thiel, Elon Musk and Donald Trump, plus Barack Obama's rally praise. It also raises the implications for Vance's presidential ambitions and mentions a controversial ad against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. The Blaze is briefer, noting a Democratic pickup, Brown's victory statement and a 48.6% tally. Left-leaning CBS News and NPR also call the race, but CBS adds context on Trump's waning popularity amid the Iran war and high fuel and living costs, and stresses Brown's data-center message and the historic comeback. NPR calls it close and expensive. Both sides agree on the winner, Husted's appointment and Brown's 2024 loss. They differ in emphasis: the right on vote counts and Vance, the left on national conditions and campaign themes. Al Jazeera adds the spending detail, tech-company money against Brown and Husted's support for Trump's policies.
How the sides differ Right sources stress vote tallies, Obama's campaigning and effects on Vance; left sources stress Brown's comeback, Trump's weak standing and data centers; alternative sources stress spending.
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CBS News and NPR report the projected win, with CBS adding Trump's waning popularity, cost-of-living pressures, the rare comeback and Brown's data-center attacks on Husted; NPR calls the race close and expensive.
Al Jazeera focuses on spending, over $500 million in ads with tech companies contributing tens of millions against Brown, and on Husted's backing of Trump policies and Brown's labor ties.
The New York Post and The Blaze lead with the result; the Post features vote shares, Brown and Obama quotes about billionaire influence and the blow to Vance, while The Blaze gives Brown's victory statement and the tally.