Sherrod Brown
October 28, 2026 · Newsletter
Steve Kornacki: “Control of the Senate could be determined by Ohio.”
Hey everyone,
NBC analyst Steve Kornacki was a guest on Ohio Politics Explained today.
He made a couple points I think are worth calling out as we head into the final few days of this race.
Haley BeMiller: It feels like we say every election is important, but this one really is. [...] As you all know, in recent years, we’ve kind of lost our status as a bellwether, at least in presidential races. It kind of feels like we’re back this year, or at least people are paying attention to Ohio. What’s been your sense of where Ohio fits on the national map?
Kornacki: Control of the Senate could be determined by Ohio. It’s one of the states that could end up deciding the balance of it. It’s a real interesting test to me because like you’re saying this was a swing state – a classic swing state – especially 2004, 2008, 2012, and it’s transformed into something else under Trump. And it’s a real test with Trump’s approval rating down with his handling of inflation, cost of living, with the Iran war not polling well – can that new Republican coalition that he built in Ohio stay intact, stay engaged and turn out, or is it going to suffer defections, you know, voters from it going back to the Democratic party really for the first time in a long time.
You can listen to the full conversation here:
I’ve felt the pressure of this race since the day we launched our campaign last August. I knew National Republicans would be desperate to hold onto power. The fact that we are getting so much attention – and attacks from those Republicans who’ve now spent up to $320 million, and crypto who spent $50 million – is not a surprise or news to me.
Ohio is on the map again because voters understand the system is rigged.
Working families see their bills go up – Husted votes for Trump’s tax cuts to help out their billionaire donors instead.
Rural voters see our troops in harm’s way for an unnecessary and costly war – Husted votes 14 times to keep it going because Trump told him to.
Teachers dip into their own pocket to pay for school supplies – Husted says their “work ethic is broken.”
Look I am no pundit, I’ve said that many times – I don’t like to spend time on the horserace or predictions. It’s one foot in front of the other: what is it we can control? (I’ll get to that in a sec.)
But as far as Kornacki goes, he’s validating what we know to be true. And that carries some weight, because I can say it all day.
You saying it to a friend, a coworker, a neighbor, or a family member is what will win this election in just a few days.
Please forward this note to a few folks who may be surprised to see Ohio in the spotlight. Ask them for something specific, whether it’s to consider the choice in this election, chip in a few bucks themselves, or canvass with us over the GOTV weekend.
Sign up for a shift with our incredible field team – we’re knocking doors, text and phone banking, and writing postcards to voters.
I know everyone has stuff going on. Life doesn’t stop because the election is 6 days away. Not everyone can make it to a canvass or can take a few hours to make calls – but even if you can’t, you can help us with a donation to fund rallies, digital ads, canvasses, and more through November 3. We are going to win because our campaign is powered by thousands of people doing what they can, and theirs isn’t.
Thanks for fighting alongside me. All eyes are on us.
In solidarity,
Sherrod Brown
Before you click away! Republican spending in Ohio has reached $320 million, and Sherrod Brown is counting on your support to keep up. We can’t outspend them, but we can outwork them.