Fox News Poll: Brown leads Husted in Ohio Senate race

Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown holds a five-point lead over appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted in the Ohio Senate race, according to a Fox News survey of likely voters. The poll, conducted October 15-19, 2026, shows Brown ahead 52% to 47% among the 1,592 likely voters in the sample. Brown's advantage rests on a clear favorability edge, with his rating 2 points above water at 50% favorable and 48% unfavorable. Husted's standing is significantly lower, sitting 13 points underwater with 42% favorable and 55% unfavorable ratings. Voter dissatisfaction with household finances further disadvantages Husted. Approximately two and a half times as many voters report their financial situation is worse than two years ago rather than better, with 46% citing worse conditions versus 19% citing better ones. Among those who say their finances have deteriorated, Brown leads by 49 points. Conversely, voters who report their finances are better or the same favor Husted by 51 and 24 points, respectively. The president's low approval ratings in Ohio add to Husted's challenges. Although President Donald Trump won the state with 55% of the vote in 2024, only 43% of Ohioans currently approve of his job performance. A 57% majority disapproves, including 46% who strongly disapprove. Additionally, 52% of voters express concern that Husted is too close to Trump, with 38% saying they are extremely concerned. Brown faces parallel scrutiny regarding his ideology, with 50% worried he is too liberal, though only 30% are extremely concerned. A distinct gender gap shapes the matchup. Women favor Brown by 14 points, while men support Husted by four points, creating an 18-point divide. Brown also leads among voters under 35, those with college degrees, union members, and residents of urban and suburban areas. Husted draws support from rural communities, non-college White men, married voters, and a narrow edge among those ages 65 and older. Partisan crossovers tilt the field toward the challenger. While Husted receives 90% of Republican support, 9% of Republicans back Brown. Democrats overwhelmingly support Brown at 97%, compared to just 2% for Husted, and Brown carries independents by nearly two to one. Legislative preferences lean slightly Democratic, with Ohioans splitting 50% for Democratic control of the U.S. Senate and 48% for Republican control. In the governor's race, Democrat Amy Acton leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy by two points, 50% to 48%. Women favor Acton by 10 points, while men back Ramaswamy by seven points. The survey was fielded before a negative television ad from Ramaswamy's campaign featuring Acton's estranged mother became public. The poll was conducted under the joint direction of Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus two percentage points for the likely voter subsample.