Husted touts candidacy at Mahoning Valley event
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BOARDMAN - U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, a Republican, said the choice between him and his Democratic challenger - Sherrod Brown, a former three-term senator - is the difference between Ohio continuing to move forward or going back.
During a Thursday rally at Mahoning County Republican Party headquarters, Husted said Ohio was facing high unemployment and financial struggles about 15 years ago.
"We changed the state," Husted said. "We don't want to go back to that and this is why it matters who you elect because we took a state that was dying and made it a state that's now growing again, is now a place that people move to. It's a place where jobs are being created."
Husted is facing Brown, who served in the Senate for 18 years before losing reelection in 2024, in this election. Polls show a closely contested race.
Husted was appointed in January 2025 by Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who praised him at Thursday's event, to an open Senate seat. This election is for the remaining two years on JD Vance's unexpired term with another election for the Senate seat in 2028.
Husted said: "We have a tough campaign. Mid-term elections are elections where people maybe aren't as enthused to get out there and vote."
In an interview after the event, Husted said, "In a midterm election, everybody has to be worried about it. I'm sure the Democrats are, Republicans are. You can't take anything for granted. You've got to work. You've got to show people that you want to earn their vote."
Husted delivered a speech that was similar to the one he gave Monday at Youngstown's Covelli Centre during a rally headlined by President Donald Trump.
As he said Monday, Husted reiterated Thursday: "My opponent, Sherrod Brown, has been in office for over 50 years. Can you name one thing that he's done to make your life better?"
Husted blamed Brown for voting for "radical environmental policies that closed 23 power plants in the state. We closed 90 refineries during the time he was in Congress, which leads to higher electricity and gas prices. Open borders, sanctuary cities and states --- there are real consequences for that. We can't send the same old Sherrod Brown back to Washington and think you're going to get different results."
Husted said Brown "has failed on all of the fronts to do anything that has actually made life better for working families. I have, as lieutenant governor, taken the state — in my various roles - from being one of the worst states to do business to one of the best. That's creating jobs and putting people to work here. We have the most jobs and the lowest unemployment in Ohio's history."
Lauren Chou, Brown's campaign spokesperson, said: "Jon Husted voted 14 times to continue the war in Iran that has sent the costs of gas and diesel to record highs, he led the charge to bring 226 data centers to Ohio with $2.5 billion in sweetheart tax deals, and he cast the deciding vote to cut a half a million Ohioans' healthcare. Jon Husted puts corporations and billionaires first every time and we all pay for it."
During Thursday's event, DeWine said: "We all know the importance of holding on to the Senate, Republicans. Well, this may be the determining state."
Before the event at Mahoning Republican headquarters, Husted, DeWine and others were in East Palestine to announce the next phase of plans for a new regional first responder training center in that Columbiana County community.
A February 2023 Norfolk Southern train disaster and subsequent controlled explosion caused the evacuation of thousands of residents of East Palestine and nearby communities.
Several residents have experienced health issues from the release of toxic chemicals into the air, soil and water.
The project builds on a $20 million commitment from the railroad company to Youngstown State University to design, construct and operate a first responder center in East Palestine. The facility will serve first responders throughout the Mahoning Valley and surrounding region.