The Party That Must Not Be Named

For most of the past two decades, Ohio Democrats have struggled to win elections, losing in a state that had once been a reliable bellwether. In 2024, Donald Trump enjoyed an 11-point victory, while Sherrod Brown lost his Senate seat. Earlier this month, I witnessed Brown campaigning at Ohio State University, blending in with the students wearing scarlet-and-gray apparel.

As Election Day approached, Ohio Democrats demonstrated a newfound enthusiasm by adopting a chant from the Buckeyes' football playbook. Ohio Democrats believe that to win back the Senate seat, they need to address voters' frustrations, particularly those stemming from high prices, an unpopular war, and a struggling president. Sherrod Brown has been focusing his campaign on highlighting the state's deteriorating conditions, hoping that anger will help him regain his seat.

Just two weeks before the election, there are indications that Brown's strategy may be gaining traction. Recent polls show him and his Democratic gubernatorial opponent, Amy Acton, leading or tied with their Republican counterparts. Despite his age, Brown's message has resonated with students, who found his speech about the future disheartening.

The 73-year-old warned that life would be significantly harder for these students than it was for him when he graduated from Ohio State five decades ago. Brown emphasized that corporations are richer than ever, with CEOs earning hundreds of times more than the average worker, making homeownership virtually unattainable for young Americans.

Facing a formidable opponent in Republican Jon Husted, who has ties to Brown, the Ohio Democrat is employing a strategy similar to Donald Trump's, focusing on voters' grievances and portraying himself as an outsider unburdened by party affiliation.