Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown announced a bid to once again represent Ohio in the Senate on Monday, nearly a year after his reelection effort in 2024 fell short.

The latest poll from Bowling Green State University showed Husted with a narrow lead over Brown but still pointed to a competitive race. It found that 49 percent of respondents preferred Husted, while 46 percent said they would vote for Brown in 2026. Five percent leaned toward other candidates.

Ohio, launched a comeback campaign Monday, setting the stage for a 2026 special election that could decide control of the Senate.