Overview

• An Emerson College survey released Friday shows Jon Husted at 50% and Sherrod Brown at 44%, with 7% undecided in the first public poll since Brown entered the 2026 race.
• The poll surveyed 1,000 active Ohio registered voters Aug. 18–19 and carries a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
• Subgroup results show Husted leading by double digits among men, voters without a college degree and voters over 40, while Brown leads among voters under 40, women and independents.
• Brown reported raising $3.6 million in his first 24 hours, as Republicans rallied around Husted and national GOP groups promoted the findings.
• Cook Political Report shifted the race to lean Republican after Brown’s launch, with the same poll showing President Trump’s approval in Ohio at 49% approve to 42% disapprove.