Jon Husted

Husted was the Republican Party's heaviest investment of the Senate cycle. The National Republican Senatorial Committee spent $10.03m in coordination with him in August, and in September Ohio's two nominees drew $17.45m of party money, more than any other state. Brown raised $20.25m over the summer, six times Husted's total, but spent fast; Husted finished September with nearly twice Brown's cash.

On 3 November Brown won 50.0% to 45.2%, a Democratic gain on network projections that CBS News called at 11:15pm Eastern time. Amy Acton took the governorship for the Democrats on the same ballot. Brown, who lost the state's other seat in 2024, fills the rest of the term to January 2029.

Outside groups did much of the spending on Husted's side. Between 24 and 30 September they reported $44.1m in the Ohio race, led by Defend American Jobs with $11.46m split almost evenly between backing Husted and attacking Brown. The Washington Times links that committee to the crypto industry's Fairshake network, which spent heavily against Brown in 2024; its new adverts did not mention crypto.

The pattern started early. On 2 June Americans for Prosperity Action, the Koch network's political Arm, filed $1.75m in Ohio supporting Husted and opposing Brown. In late October the Senate Leadership Fund added $12.07m against Brown. None of it closed the gap.