COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio's shift to a competitive battleground presents a direct challenge to Republican hopes of holding the Senate. The state, long a GOP stronghold, now features Senate and gubernatorial races locked in a dead heat.
Democrats see Ohio as their best opening to flip a Senate seat in the coming cycle. Republicans are anxious.
One tight contest involves Rep. Max Miller, a Republican who faces a serious challenge in his Cleveland-area congressional race. Democrat Brian Poindexter, a union official and local council member, has gained traction on his blue-collar credentials.
Ohio has trended Republican over the past two decades. The state's House delegation shifted from a 10-8 Democratic advantage in 2009 to a 10-5 GOP edge today, aided by redistricting and demographic change. Population loss cost Ohio three House seats, shrinking its congressional footprint.
President Donald Trump carried Ohio by 11 points in his last election. Recent polling, however, shows his favorability ratings in the state running below expectations. Gov. Mike DeWine, who is term-limited, and Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native, also post weak favorability numbers.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, is also on the ballot, adding another high-stakes contest to an already crowded map.
A Democratic win in the Senate race would complicate the Republican path to controlling the chamber. A GOP hold would reinforce the state's recent red trajectory.
