September 29, 2026
Midterm Elections in Ohio, September 2026
Democrats Lead in Ohio's Senate & Gubernatorial Contests... Impressions of Trump Loom Large
Ohio registered voters approach the midterm election cycle with a sour mood toward President Donald Trump and lean Democratic in the state’s marquee contests. In the race for U.S. Senate in Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown has an eight-point advantage against Republican Jon Husted, and the Democrats are +3 against the Republicans on the generic congressional ballot question. In the state’s gubernatorial contest, Democrat Amy Acton leads Republican Vivek Ramaswamy by six points. President Trump’s lackluster approval rating in Ohio and voters’ downtrodden views of their personal finances underpin the electoral landscape.
- Brown (51%) leads Husted (43%) among registered voters statewide in the race for U.S. Senate in Ohio. Independents break for Brown (58% to 33% for Husted). Brown (50%) is +3 points against Husted (47%) in terms of who voters think will actually win the Senate contest.
- On the congressional generic ballot question, three points separate the Democratic candidate (50%) on the ballot against the Republican candidate (47%). In October of 2024, a majority of registered voters supported the Republican candidate while 46% supported the Democrat. 52% of Ohio voters currently say they think the Republican running for Congress will be elected.
- A plurality of Ohio voters (41%) say their congressional vote is mainly a vote against President Trump. 25% say it is a vote for the president, and 33% report President Trump is not much of a factor when considering their vote. Of those Ohio voters who say the president is not influencing their vote, a majority approve of how President Trump is doing his job.
- Acton (50%) leads Ramaswamy (44%) in Ohio's gubernatorial contest among registered voters statewide. Among independents, 57% back Acton compared with 32% for Ramaswamy. However, when asked which candidate they think will actually win, Ramaswamy (53%) has the advantage over Acton (43%).
- President Trump's job approval rating among Ohio registered voters is 42% while 56% disapprove of how the president is doing his job. In 2018, 44% of voters statewide approved of the job President Trump was doing, 48% disapproved, and 6% were unsure.
- A plurality of registered voters (41%) say their personal finances have gotten worse in the last year, and 37% say they have stayed about the same. 19% report their financial picture has improved. Democrats (59%) are more likely than Republicans (23%) to say their family finances have gotten worse.
For additional data pertaining to the Midterm Elections in Ohio, click on the link to the full table packet in the Survey Data button below.
Methodology
This Marist Poll Ohio survey of 1,298 Ohio registered voters was conducted September 24th through September 27th, 2026 by the Marist Poll. Registered voters 18 years of age and older residing in Ohio were contacted through a multi-mode design: By phone using live interviewers, by text, or online. Results for registered voters (n=1,298) are statistically significant within ±3.8 percentage points.