The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66, which represents the Mahoning Valley, endorsed U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican, over Democrat Sherrod Brown, whom it has previously supported.

Jesse DiRenna, the IUOE Local 66 business manager, said, “The Mahoning Valley is the backbone of Ohio’s working class. Sen. Jon Husted leads with action, not just photo ops or political talking points. His values align with ours, which is why we proudly support him.”

Husted said, “I’m proud to have the endorsement of Operating Engineers Local 66. These men and women know the value of hard work and personal responsibility. I’ll keep fighting to make sure families like theirs have every opportunity to thrive in Ohio.”

The IUOE local endorsed Brown in 2024, when he lost a reelection bid to Republican Bernie Moreno. Brown made stops at the local union hall in Boardman during the 18 years he served in the Senate.

The union represents operating engineers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, as well as 33 counties in Western Pennsylvania.

IUOE Local 18, which represents Ohio’s other 85 counties, also endorsed Husted for the 2026 election after supporting Brown in the 2024 campaign.

In addition to the two operating engineers unions, the Northwest Ohio Buildings and Construction Trades Council, which endorsed Brown in 2024, is supporting Husted in 2026.

Husted was appointed in January to a vacant U.S. Senate seat by Gov. Mike DeWine. Husted was DeWine’s lieutenant governor at the time of JD Vance’s resignation from the Senate to serve as vice president.

Asked to respond to the Local 66 endorsement, Patrick Eisenhauer, Brown’s campaign manager, said, “Sen. Husted voted to shut down the government and spike health care costs for half a million Ohioans, and support reckless tariffs that are driving up the costs across the state. That’s why so many Ohioans want Sherrod Brown fighting for them in Washington instead of Sen. Husted’s blind loyalty to billionaires and corporations.”

Brown has received numerous union endorsements for the 2026 campaign, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, several United Food and Commercial Workers local unions and the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters.

Husted announced Wednesday that his campaign raised $3.7 million across all entities — his main campaign fund and affiliated joint fundraising committees — during the third quarter of the year. Of that amount, $2.78 million went to his main campaign fund, with $1.59 million being transfers from affiliated committees.

Brown raised $8 million in the third quarter, though the period was only six weeks for him, as he announced his candidacy Aug. 19. Of that money, about $7 million went directly into Brown’s campaign and $1 million into affiliated joint fundraising committees.