Ohio Poll: Husted Leads Brown, Acton Ties with Ramaswamy
A new New York Times/Siena College poll shows Ohio’s 2026 U.S. Senate and governor races remain highly competitive, with Republican Jon Husted holding a narrow lead over Democrat Sherrod Brown and the governor’s race between Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy deadlocked.
The findings closely mirror an April 2026 Bowling Green poll, which also showed a tight contest for Ohio governor, suggesting little has changed as the November midterm election approaches.
Ohio Senate Race: Husted Holds Narrow Lead
According to the June 2026 New York Times/Siena College survey, Republican Jon Husted leads Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown by three percentage points.
The poll found:
- Jon Husted (R): 50%
- Sherrod Brown (D): 47%
- Undecided: 3%
Despite Ohio’s Republican lean in recent elections, Brown continues to outperform the Democratic Party’s overall standing in the state. Poll respondents view the former senator as more moderate than the national Democratic Party, contributing to higher favorability ratings and keeping the race competitive.
The survey has a margin of error of 4.7% for Ohio respondents.
Ohio Governor Race Remains Highly Competitive
The race for Ohio governor remains even closer, with Democratic candidate Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy each receiving 47% support among likely voters.
The poll found:
- Amy Acton (D): 47%
- Vivek Ramaswamy (R): 47%
The statistical tie highlights a closely divided electorate despite Ohio’s recent Republican trend.
According to the survey, Acton performs best among women, younger voters and college graduates, while Ramaswamy maintains stronger support from Republicans and conservative voters.
Voters Express Concerns About Country’s Direction
The poll also measured voter sentiment on national issues.
A majority of respondents, 52%, said the country is headed in the wrong direction. President Donald Trump’s job approval rating stood at 44%, while 54% of voters said they disapprove of his performance.
Although many voters expressed dissatisfaction with the country’s direction, the survey indicates Ohio voters continue to favor Republican candidates over Democrats heading into the 2026 midterm elections.