Fox News Poll: Economic anxiety and candidate concerns define Ohio Senate race

Financial unease and voter concerns over Republican incumbent Senator Jon Husted’s ties to the president are driving the dynamics in the Ohio Senate contest between Husted and former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown.

Brown seeks to regain his Senate seat by challenging Husted, who was appointed in 2025 after JD Vance became vice president.

Brown narrowly lost his seat to Bernie Moreno in 2024.

Underpinning the electorate’s mood is frustration with the cost of living.

A new Fox News survey of Ohio registered voters finds inflation dominates their priorities, with 40% saying it is their top issue, far outranking healthcare, immigration, and political divisions.

In 2020, 28% of Ohioans described their family’s financial situation as "falling behind." Now, that’s up to 38% — and those voters favor Brown by 40 points.

Donald Trump won Ohio by 11 points in 2024.

Still, a vulnerability for Husted is his connection to Trump, as 51% are concerned that he’s too close to the president.

That’s up 5 points from 46% who felt that way about Husted in June.

Plus, fewer voters, 44%, are worried Brown is too closely tied to the Democratic Party establishment.

FOX NEWS POLL: NEW MATCHUP, SAME RESULT: MAINE SENATE RACE STAYS LOCKED These headwinds are directly fracturing party lines, with Republican defections to Brown undercutting Husted’s built-in advantage in a state where more voters identify as Republican than Democrat.

While 87% of Republicans favor Husted, fully 97% of Democrats back Brown.

The Democrat also draws 11% crossover support from Republicans overall and 25% among non-MAGA Republicans.

Two-thirds of independents also favor Brown.