Democrat Sherrod Brown was projected by CBS News and the Associated Press to defeat Republican Jon Husted in Ohio’s special U.S. Senate election, although the result remains uncertified. Brown’s victory would flip the seat previously held by Republican JD Vance and return Brown to the Senate two years after he lost reelection to Republican Senator Bernie Moreno. Brown, 73, would become the first senator since 1988 to regain a seat after losing reelection. Husted was appointed by Republican Governor Mike DeWine in January 2025 to replace Vance after Vance became vice president, and the winner will serve the remainder of Vance’s term through January 3, 2029. Brown centered his campaign on the cost of living, including grocery, health-care, electricity and other household expenses, while Husted and President Donald Trump faced pressure over the Republican response to affordability. Vance had acknowledged that Republicans had not done enough for younger Americans struggling to buy homes or start families. The election followed a national campaign environment in which 78% of Americans blamed Trump for the high cost of living, 43% viewed socialism positively in a Gallup poll, and voters ranked living costs and government corruption among their top concerns. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, leaving Democrats needing a net gain of four seats in the nationwide midterm elections to take control.