Democrat Sen. Brown faces tough odds in Ohio reelection effort, trails most Republicans: poll

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown faces formidable challengers in several Republicans vying for the GOP nomination, a recent survey has revealed.

Brown earned his seat in 2006, at which time Ohio was largely considered a narrow battleground. In recent years, however, the Buckeye State has trended decidedly toward the Republican Party and Brown currently ranks among the most vulnerable Senate Democrats in the 2024 election cycle.

Of the three main Republican contenders, Brown trails two of them and narrowly edges out the third in the latest Emerson College survey. Against state Sen. Matt Dolan, he earns 36% support to the Republican's 38%. Against Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, he trails by 1%, 38%-39%.

Brown only beats out businessman Bernie Moreno 35% to 33%.

Contributing to the Republican edge is an apparent enthusiasm gap among traditional Democratic constituencies. 

"With just over a year until the 2024 Ohio U.S. Senate election, many established Democratic demographics, like voters under 30 and Black voters, are demonstrating a lower level of enthusiasm toward Brown," polling director Spencer Kimball said.

The Republican advantage appears even stronger at the presidential level. In a 2024 hypothetical matchup between former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, the GOP candidate leads by 12%, with Trump earning 45% support to Biden's 33%.

Conducted between Oct. 2-4, the survey questioned 438 registered Ohio voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4.5%.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.