Democratic leaders are lauding Ohio's Sherrod Brown now that he's launched his 2026 campaign to return to the U.S. Senate.

It was widely believed that Brown would be running for governor of Ohio, but was lobbied by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to instead take on Husted as Democrats will battle to take back control of the Senate in next year's midterm elections.

Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown announced a bid to once again represent Ohio in the Senate on Monday, nearly a year after his reelection effort in 2024 fell short.