Fox Poll Showing Former Dem Senator Leading In Ohio Sparks Backlash
A new Fox News poll showing former Sen. Sherrod Brown with a significant lead over Republican Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio is drawing sharp skepticism from political observers who question whether the numbers reflect the state’s actual political direction.
The survey, conducted from May 28 to June 1 among registered Ohio voters, found Brown leading Husted 53% to 45%. Only 2% of respondents said they were undecided.
Husted, who previously served as Ohio’s lieutenant governor, was appointed by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to complete the remainder of Vice President J.D. Vance’s Senate term.
“There were many people who I considered very qualified to serve in the U.S. Senate to represent the State of Ohio, but I came to the conclusion that the best person to serve is a person who has been close to me for the last six years – a person who I work with almost daily – and that is Lt. Governor Jon Husted,” the governor said in a press release.
“I have worked with him, I know he is knowledgeable, I know his heart, I know what he cares about, and I know his skills. All of that tells me he is the right person for the job,” DeWine continued.
The poll’s findings caught attention because Ohio has moved steadily toward Republicans in recent election cycles.
President Donald J. Trump carried the state by more than eight points in 2016, won it again by a similar margin in 2020 despite losing nationally, and expanded his margin to more than 11 points against Kamala Harris in 2024.
Those results have made Ohio a reliably Republican state at the presidential level, which is why Brown’s eight-point lead in the Fox News survey immediately raised eyebrows.
Brown, who served in the Senate from 2007 until losing to Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno in 2024, is now attempting a political comeback.
According to the Fox News poll, Brown showed strength across multiple voter groups. He led among both men and women and was tied with Husted among white voters, with each receiving 49%.
The survey also showed Brown with strong support among independents, moderates, and non-white voters. Among independents, Brown led Husted 53% to 35%. Among moderates, he led 60% to 37%.
The poll further suggested Brown was drawing crossover support from Republican-leaning voters. Thirteen percent of Republicans surveyed said they supported Brown, while 31% of non-MAGA Republicans said they backed him.
Among voters who supported Trump in 2024, Brown received 14% support, according to the survey.
Brown also appeared to have near-unified Democratic support. The poll found that 98% of Democrats backed him, while Democratic enthusiasm slightly exceeded Republican enthusiasm.
Eighty-two percent of Democrats said they were extremely or very motivated to vote in November, compared with 76% of Republicans.
Brown’s favorability rating stood at 53% positive and 44% negative. Husted, meanwhile, had a 41% favorable rating and a 50% unfavorable rating.
The same survey showed Trump with a 42% favorable rating and a 57% unfavorable rating in Ohio, numbers that closely resembled Husted’s standing in the poll.
Pollsters also found that more voters were concerned Husted was too closely aligned with Trump than believed Brown’s views were too liberal.
Inflation and high prices ranked as the top issue for voters at 43%. Healthcare followed at 12%, immigration and border security at 11%, political divisions at 9%, jobs at 8%, Iran at 7%, and both abortion and crime at 4%.
The results quickly sparked criticism online, especially from observers who argued that the survey appears out of step with Ohio’s recent voting history.
“If you think Ohio is shifting 12 points to the left then I have a bridge to sell you,” one user wrote on X.
Another commenter took aim at Fox News’ polling operation, writing, “Fox is an atrocious state level pollster and this poll is no exception.”
Others questioned how Brown could be leading by such a large margin in the Senate race while Republicans continue to perform strongly across Ohio.
One social media user wrote, “Close governor’s race but Senate race by likely Dem margins? Tf is this poll lmao,” Trending Politics reported.
For conservatives, the poll is another reminder that early surveys should be treated with caution, especially when they appear to clash with actual election results. Ohio has repeatedly delivered for President Trump and Republicans in recent cycles, and any claim that the state is suddenly moving sharply left will face serious scrutiny.
Brown may still be a familiar name with long-standing ties to Ohio politics, but Husted benefits from a state that has become increasingly Republican, especially under Trump’s political realignment. Whether the Fox News poll proves to be an early warning sign or an outlier will depend on whether future surveys show the same trend.
For now, many political observers are not convinced.