Ohio Senate Poll: Sherrod Brown Holds Lead Over Jon Husted
A newly released poll indicates Ohio’s closely watched U.S. Senate race remains highly competitive, with former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown holding a slight advantage over Republican Sen. Jon Husted.
The AARP voter survey, released on Thursday, June 25, found Brown leading Husted by three percentage points, 48% to 45%. With a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points, the contest is considered statistically tied. About 7% of likely voters remain undecided.
Brown represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 2007 until 2025 before losing his 2024 reelection campaign to Republican Bernie Moreno. Husted joined the Senate in January 2025 after being appointed to fill the seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance following Donald Trump’s presidential victory.
Poll Highlights Reveal Sharp Age Divide
The AARP survey found a significant generational split among Ohio voters. Husted leads by eight percentage points among voters aged 50 and older, while Brown enjoys a commanding 22-point advantage among voters under the age of 50.
The poll also identified a notable gender gap. Brown performs better among women, while stronger support from older male voters has helped keep Husted within striking distance.
Independent Voters Favor Brown
According to the survey, Brown holds a 26-point lead among independent voters and has maintained stronger support within his own party than Husted, helping offset Ohio’s Republican-leaning electorate.
Brown also received higher favorability ratings, with 46% of likely voters viewing him positively compared with 38% who viewed him unfavorably.
Husted, meanwhile, posted a net negative image rating, with 31% expressing a favorable opinion and 37% holding an unfavorable view. While his standing is mixed among older voters, younger voters view him less favorably.
The survey was commissioned by AARP and conducted by the bipartisan polling firms Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research. Researchers interviewed 800 likely Ohio voters selected at random from the state’s voter rolls between June 14 and June 16, 2026.