Special election · 2026

Ohio Senate Race

This special election will fill the remaining two years of the term of former Senator J.D. Vance, who became Vice President. The outcome of this highly competitive race could affect the partisan balance of the U.S. Senate.

All 2026 races

4 candidates · what each one campaigns on

Jon Husted

Republican · Incumbent

Their record

Currently: U.S. Senator

Jon Husted was appointed to the U.S. Senate on January 17, 2025, to replace Vice President J.D. Vance.

Campaign platform

Tax Cuts
Husted supports federal legislation that provides tax breaks for Ohioans, including a $5,000 benefit for the average Ohioan, increased standard deduction, no tax on tips, and a child tax credit.
EconomySource
Tariff Refunds
Husted believes money collected from tariffs should be returned to businesses that paid them, rather than to families as rebates.
EconomySource
Data Centers
Husted champions new data center development, arguing they create construction jobs and broaden the tax base, and introduced the Ratepayer Protection Act to ask states to consider measures to make data centers pay for electricity usage.
TechnologySource
Workforce Development
Husted campaigned on his record of leading efforts to attract economic projects, creating jobs, and making Ohio a leader in career technical education.
EconomySource
Iran Conflict
Husted has rejected a resolution to halt the conflict in Iran, stating that America needs to remain strong as Iran is keeping the Strait of Hormuz shut down.
DefenseSource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Sherrod Brown

Democratic

Sherrod Brown previously served in the U.S. Senate from 2007 to 2025 and lost re-election in 2024.

Campaign platform

Working Families
Brown's campaign website states he is running to address issues like massive tax breaks for corporations and billionaires at the expense of hardworking Ohioans.
EconomySource
Tariff Rebates
Brown wants money collected from tariffs to be returned to Ohio families as a rebate, stating that tariffs were a tax on purchases that cost Ohio families an average of $1,336 over the past year.
EconomySource
Data Centers
Brown calls for an end to data center tax breaks, demands companies safely process water, and says local communities should have more transparency and control over data center construction.
TechnologySource
Tax Legislation
Brown has been critical of federal legislation that he says benefits wealthy Americans and corporations, includes Medicaid cuts, and allows the expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies.
EconomySource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Bill Redpath

Libertarian

Bill Redpath is running in the special election for U.S. Senate in Ohio.

Campaign platform

Limited government
Campaigns on a libertarian view that people should live as they choose absent harm to others.
Democracy & GovernmentSource
Fiscal restraint, social tolerance
Combines conservative budget policy with liberal positions on personal and social issues.
EconomySource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Gregory Levy

Independent

Gregory Levy is running in the special election for U.S. Senate in Ohio.

Campaign platform

Worker-first economy
Calls for restructuring the economy around workers rather than large corporate interests.
EconomySource
Union and labor rights
Campaigns from an Ohio union family background on stronger labor protections.
EconomySource

Campaign site Ballotpedia profile

Platform items are drawn from candidates’ own campaign materials and public reporting, summarised neutrally. They are what a candidate says they will do — not a judgement about whether they will do it. Once a candidate is serving in Congress, their record moves to the The Informed Ballot profiles.