Who is running for U.S. Senate (Ohio, special election) in 2026?

U.S. Senator from Ohio (appointed January 2025)

Jon Husted is the Republican nominee and incumbent in Ohio's Nov. 3, 2026 special U.S. Senate election¹. Gov. Mike DeWine appointed him to the Senate on Jan. 17, 2025, to replace Vice President JD Vance³. He previously served as a state representative and Ohio House speaker, state senator, Ohio secretary of state from 2011 to 2019, and lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2025³.

Where they stand 14 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Income taxesCut taxes across the board, including for top earners and corporationshigh

  Voted · high confidence

  • Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made the 2017 individual tax cuts permanent, including the top rate (50 to 50, with the vice president breaking the tie). (2025-07-01) source
  • Said the bill made permanent the 2017 tax cuts, which he said lowered tax rates for every income bracket. (2025-07-01) source
  • Cosponsored the Death Tax Repeal Act to permanently repeal the federal estate tax. (2025-05-08) source
• Safety net programsKeep them, but add work requirements for able-bodied adultshigh

  Voted · high confidence

  • Voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which added Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults. (2025-07-01) source
  • His office said the bill requires able-bodied adults without young children to work or volunteer 20 hours a week in exchange for Medicaid, while protecting Medicaid for children, people with disabilities and the elderly. (2025-07-01) source
• ImmigrationSecure the border first; deport those with criminal records; keep legal immigration steadymedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Voted for the Secure America Act, a budget reconciliation bill funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection through 2029 (passed 52 to 47). (2026-06-05) source
  • Said Ohioans expect government to enforce the rule of law, deport criminals and secure the border. (2026-06-05) source
  • Urged federal agencies to bar states from issuing driver's licenses to people who cannot show lawful immigration status. (2026-09-03) source
• Mandatory minimumsAdd or lengthen them for serious crimes like fentanyl traffickingmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted for the HALT Fentanyl Act, which permanently placed fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I, bringing mandatory minimum penalties for trafficking them (passed 84 to 16). (2025-03-14) source
  • Said the HALT Fentanyl Act lets law enforcement crack down on drug cartels. (2025-07-16) source
• Transgender athletesNo, and Congress should set a biological sex rule nationwidemedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to begin debate on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which would base federal Title IX athletics eligibility on sex at birth; the motion failed 51 to 45. (2025-03-03) source
• Energy and climateAll of the above: oil, gas, nuclear and renewables, and let markets pickmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • Said Ohio has nuclear, solar, wind, oil, gas and coal and that affordability requires reliable, abundant energy and fixing policies that block production, including permitting reform. (2026-09-03) source
• Nuclear powerBack new reactors with public funds, tax credits, and streamlined approvalsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Introduced the bipartisan Nuclear REFUEL Act to simplify federal licensing for nuclear fuel recycling facilities and expand nuclear power. (2025-06-12) source
• Kids onlineAlso require safe-by-default design and a legal duty of caremedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Cosponsored the Kids Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to offer minors safety settings and ways to disable addictive features. (2025-12-12) source
  • Introduced the CHAT Act, requiring AI companion chatbots to verify age, get parental consent for minors and block sexually explicit content for minors. (2025-09-08) source
• AbortionIllegal, except to save the mother's life or in cases of rape or incestlow

  Said · low confidence

  • Said he backs solutions to protect unborn children and cosponsored a bill to make the Hyde Amendment ban on federal abortion funding permanent. (2025-05-08) source
• National debtNo single answer fitsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Introduced a constitutional amendment requiring Congress to balance federal spending and revenue within 10 years of ratification, allowing deficit spending only with two-thirds votes. (2025-11-24) source
  • Said the amendment would require Congress to rein in spending. (2025-11-24) source
• HealthcareNo single answer fitsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Introduced the Accountability for Better Care Act to extend enhanced ACA premium tax credits for two years with a minimum premium, funding for cost-sharing reductions and limits to citizens. (2025-12-09) source
  • Called the Affordable Care Act the Unaffordable Care Act while offering his bill as a short-term extension. (2025-12-10) source
  • Voted yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to advance a Republican bill providing health savings account contributions to some enrollees; the motion failed 51 to 48. (2025-12-11) source
• Aid to UkraineNo single answer fitsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Cosponsored legislation to impose severe sanctions on Russia if it refuses good-faith peace talks with Ukraine. (2025-04-02) source
  • Cosponsored the DROP Act to sanction foreign buyers of Russian oil, with exemptions for countries that aid Ukraine. (2025-12-16) source
  • Voted for H.R. 5334, a Russia sanctions bill (passed 86 to 11). (2026-08-07) source
• Aid to IsraelNo single answer fitsmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted against a procedural motion to bring up a resolution blocking an arms sale to Israel. The motion failed 15 to 83. (2025-04-03) source
  • Voted against a procedural motion to bring up a resolution blocking an arms sale to Israel. The motion failed 40 to 59. (2026-04-15) source
  • Voted against a procedural motion to bring up a resolution blocking an arms sale to Israel. The motion failed 36 to 63. (2026-04-15) source
• China policyNo single answer fitsmedium

  Official action · medium confidence

  • Introduced a bipartisan package of bills to tighten export control enforcement against China and study China's artificial intelligence development. (2026-08-11) source

No public position found on: Social Security, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, School vaccines, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, DEI programs, Religion in schools.

Former U.S. Senator from Ohio (2007 to 2025)

Sherrod Brown is the Democratic nominee in Ohio's Nov. 3, 2026 special U.S. Senate election¹. He served in the U.S. Senate from 2007 to 2025 and lost re-election in 2024 to Bernie Moreno, 50.1 percent to 46.5 percent³. Earlier he was a state representative, Ohio secretary of state, and a U.S. House member from 1993 to 2007³.

Where they stand 14 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programshigh

  Voted · high confidence

  • Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which set a 15 percent minimum tax on large corporations and a tax on stock buybacks (50 to 50, with the vice president breaking the tie). (2022-08-07) source
  • His 2026 campaign site, as quoted by Ballotpedia, criticized giving massive tax breaks to corporations and billionaires at the expense of working Ohioans. (2026) source
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)medium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to begin debate on the Women's Health Protection Act, which would protect abortion access nationwide before viability and after viability when needed for the patient's life or health; the motion failed 46 to 48. (2022-02-28) source
  • Voted yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to begin debate on the Women's Health Protection Act of 2022; the motion failed 49 to 51. (2022-05-11) source
  • His 2018 campaign site, as quoted by Ballotpedia, said a woman's reproductive health decisions are between her and her doctor. (2018) source
• Minimum wageRaise it to around $15medium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on a procedural motion to waive budget rules for an amendment raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour; the motion failed 42 to 58 (60 votes needed). (2021-03-05) source
  • His 2018 campaign site said he was pushing to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. (2018) source
• RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium

  Voted · medium confidence

  • Voted yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to begin debate on the For the People Act, which would require independent commissions to draw congressional maps; the motion failed 50 to 50. (2021-06-22) source
  • Voted yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to begin debate on the Freedom to Vote Act, which set national limits on partisan gerrymandering; the motion failed 49 to 51. (2021-10-20) source
• Drug pricesSet legal price limits on all prescription drugs for every buyermedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His 2026 campaign site says it should be illegal for drug companies to charge Americans more than they charge in other countries. (2026) source
  • Voted yes on a procedural motion to waive budget rules and keep an insulin cost cap in the Inflation Reduction Act; the motion failed 57 to 43 (60 votes needed). (2022-08-07) source
  • Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which allowed Medicare to negotiate some drug prices (50 to 50, with the vice president breaking the tie). (2022-08-07) source
• Politicians trading stocksNo, ban it for members and their spousesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His 2026 campaign site says no member of Congress or their spouse should be able to trade stocks. (2026) source
• Campaign financeOverturn Citizens United by amendment and add public financing of campaignslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted yes on a procedural motion (cloture) to begin debate on the For the People Act, which created small-donor public matching funds and required disclosure of large donors to political groups; the motion failed 50 to 50. (2021-06-22) source
• Trade and tariffsTargeted tariffs on rivals like Chinalow

  Said · low confidence

  • His 2018 campaign site said he supports steel and aluminum tariffs so U.S. manufacturers are not undercut by cheap imports from countries like China, and said he opposed NAFTA and other trade deals he viewed as unfair. (2018) source
• ImmigrationTighter border security plus a path to legal status for long-time residentslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted for the 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill, which paired major border security spending with a path to citizenship for most people living in the U.S. illegally and more visas (passed 68 to 32). (2013-06-27) source
• Aid to UkraineRestore strong U.S. aid and add tougher sanctions on Russialow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted for the April 2024 national security package, which included about $61 billion for Ukraine along with aid to Israel and Taiwan (passed 79 to 18). (2024-04-23) source
  • His 2018 campaign site, as quoted by Ballotpedia, said he had repeatedly called for maintaining significant sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. (2018) source
• Social SecurityNo single answer fitsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His 2018 campaign site said he opposes raising the retirement age or privatizing Social Security. (2018) source
• HealthcareNo single answer fitsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His 2018 campaign site said he helped pass the Affordable Care Act and advocated lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 55. (2018) source
  • His 2026 campaign site calls for banning insurers from denying care a doctor says a patient needs and fining insurers that improperly deny claims. (2026) source
• Energy and climateNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which used tax credits and incentives to speed a shift to cleaner energy (50 to 50, with the vice president breaking the tie). (2022-08-07) source
• Aid to IsraelNo single answer fitslow

  Voted · low confidence

  • Voted for the April 2024 national security package, which included aid to Israel along with aid to Ukraine and Taiwan (passed 79 to 18). (2024-04-23) source
  • His 2018 campaign site, as quoted by Ballotpedia, said he had repeatedly supported aid to Israel. (2018) source

No public position found on: National debt, Safety net programs, Business regulation, Guns, Foreign policy, Judges, Marijuana, Term limits, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.

Private citizen

William B. (Bill) Redpath is the Libertarian nominee in the Nov. 3, 2026 special election for U.S. Senate in Ohio¹². He is a Findlay native and certified public accountant who spent a long career in business valuation, and he chaired the Libertarian National Committee from 2006 to 2010³. He has run for office as a Libertarian several times, mostly in Virginia, including for governor in 2001 and U.S. Senate in 2008⁴.

Where they stand 13 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• Trade and tariffsFree trade with minimal tariffs across the boardmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says the United States should end all tariffs on imported goods and services, regardless of other nations' policies, a policy he calls unilateral free trade. (2026) source
• ImmigrationMuch more open immigration with less enforcementmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site endorses the view that all immigration should be allowed except for criminals, terrorists, the seriously ill or others who would cause harm, and calls open immigration a major anti-poverty measure. (2026) source
• National debtCut spending sharply, including popular programs, to balance the budgetmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says the debt is a spending problem, not a taxing problem, and calls for entitlement reform, eliminating the Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, and ending corporate welfare and farm subsidies. (2026) source
• Income taxesCut taxes across the board, including for top earners and corporationsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site proposes replacing the tax code with a 20 percent flat tax on individual income with a family allowance, a 20 percent distributed profits tax for businesses, and no taxes at death. (2026) source
  • His campaign home page says he calls for reduced government spending and lower taxes. (2026) source
• Social SecurityGradually shift younger workers to personal investment accountsmedium

  Questionnaire answer · medium confidence

  • In a 2022 Ballotpedia survey he said he supports the Cato Institute's 6.2% Solution, letting workers under 55 opt out of Social Security and put their payroll tax into private investment accounts. (2022) source
  • His 2026 campaign site proposes a Social Security reform commission whose package Congress would have to vote up or down without changes. (2026) source
• Safety net programsCut them back; families, churches and charities should leadmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says Congress should turn Medicaid over to the states by phasing out federal funding over ten years, and calls for eliminating the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2026) source
• HealthcareMostly private market; roll back the government's rolemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site proposes paying Medicare enrollees cash instead of paying medical providers, and phasing out federal Medicaid funding so states run the program. (2026) source
• Foreign policyPull back from foreign conflicts and aid (often called America First)medium

  Said · medium confidence

  • In his 2026 Ballotpedia survey he said he supports a non-interventionist foreign policy, using force only when the U.S. homeland or territories are threatened, which would allow cuts to the defense budget. (2026) source
  • His campaign site says U.S. participation in the war against Iran is unconstitutional without congressional approval. (2026) source
• Electoral CollegeKeep it in the Constitution but have states join the National Popular Vote Compactmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says he supports the National Popular Vote interstate compact, though he thinks nationwide ranked-choice voting would be best for electing the president. (2026) source
• RedistrictingIndependent commissions draw maps, with a national ban on partisan gerrymanderingmedium

  Questionnaire answer · medium confidence

  • In a 2020 Ballotpedia survey he said he favors an independent citizens' commission to take redistricting out of legislators' hands, along with multimember districts elected by ranked-choice voting. (2020) source
• MarijuanaLegalize and regulate it like alcoholmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says that, as with the end of alcohol prohibition, the federal government should end drug prohibition and let the states address the issue. (2026) source
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low

  Questionnaire answer · low confidence

  • In a 2022 Ballotpedia survey he said he is pro-choice on abortion but thinks a grand compromise is needed, quoting the phrase legal, safe and rare. (2022) source
• Aid to IsraelNo single answer fitslow

  Said · low confidence

  • His campaign site says the U.S. special relationship with Israel should end and Israel should be treated like any other allied nation. (2026) source

No public position found on: Minimum wage, Business regulation, Guns, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Term limits, Campaign finance, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Private citizen

Greg Levy (Gregory Levy) is on the Nov. 3, 2026 special election ballot for U.S. Senate in Ohio, listed by the Hamilton and Butler County Boards of Elections as an "other-party candidate" and by Ballotpedia as an independent¹⁶². His campaign describes him as an Akron-raised community organizer, military veteran, mover and socialist, and his campaign site includes a page promoting the Party for Socialism and Liberation³⁴.

Where they stand 12 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• HealthcareGovernment-run coverage for everyone (Medicare for All)medium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for a universal, single-payer health care system, free at the point of use. (2026) source
• Student loansCancel large amounts of debt and make public college tuition-freemedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for canceling all student debt and making public education from pre-K through college and trade school completely free. (2026) source
• Childcare and pre-KOffer free pre-K to every 4-year-old, and expand childcare aidmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for making public education, starting with pre-K, completely free. (2026) source
• Income taxesRaise taxes on the highest earners and corporations to pay for programsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform says he would repeal the tax cuts in the 2025 "Big Beautiful" law, which it calls tax cuts for the rich. (2026) source
• Business regulationMuch stronger rules, including breaking up the largest companiesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for taking the 100 biggest corporations, including Kroger and Procter and Gamble, into public ownership under worker control. (2026) source
• ImmigrationMuch more open immigration with less enforcementmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for abolishing ICE, ending all raids and deportations, closing detention centers and establishing a path to citizenship. (2026) source
• Foreign policyCut military spending significantlymedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for cutting the Pentagon budget by 90 percent, closing overseas military bases and dissolving NATO. (2026) source
• Aid to IsraelEnd itmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for cutting all aid to Israel. (2026) source
• DEI programsExpand them to close gaps between groupsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform says systems of protection and affirmative action should be expanded, not attacked, and criticizes Ohio Senate Bill 1's limits on DEI in higher education. (2026) source
• AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low

  Said · low confidence

  • His platform calls for guaranteeing free abortion. (2026) source
• Campaign financeNo single answer fitsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for outlawing corporate lobbying and political donations. (2026) source
• Supreme Court reformNo single answer fitsmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His platform calls for moving to abolish the U.S. Senate and the Supreme Court and transfer their powers to more accountable bodies. (2026) source

No public position found on: National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Guns, Trade and tariffs, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Electoral College, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Paid leave, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, Religion in schools, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Private citizen

Certified write-in candidate. Stephen Faris filed a valid declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for U.S. Senator (unexpired term ending Jan. 3, 2029) in Ohio's Nov. 3, 2026 special election; the name will not be printed on the ballot¹². His campaign centers on abolishing abortion⁴.

Where they stand 1 issues · tap any issue for the evidence

• AbortionIllegal in all casesmedium

  Said · medium confidence

  • His campaign site says abortion must be abolished immediately and totally. (2026) source
  • His campaign site says it is time to stop pretending that pro-life exceptions and regulations are just, and calls for no more exceptions. (2026) source
  • In a 2018 Ballotpedia survey he said he would legally define unborn human beings, at any developmental stage, as persons. (2018-09-16) source

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Guns, Immigration, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Private citizen

Certified write-in candidate. Anthony Holliman filed a valid declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for U.S. Senator (unexpired term ending Jan. 3, 2029) in Ohio's Nov. 3, 2026 special election; the name will not be printed on the ballot¹².

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.

Private citizen

Certified write-in candidate. Timothy Telymonde filed a valid declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate for U.S. Senator (unexpired term ending Jan. 3, 2029) in Ohio's Nov. 3, 2026 special election; the name will not be printed on the ballot¹².

No public position found on: Income taxes, National debt, Social Security, Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Trade and tariffs, Foreign policy, Energy and climate, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, Birthright citizenship, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, Aid to Israel, Aid to Ukraine, China policy.