‘We’re a Perfect Example of Being Lied To’: Democrats Vying To Reclaim Ohio As Trust Wanes

Golden Dawn, an Italian restaurant that opened in 1932 on Youngstown's north side, still draws locals with low prices: a hamburger and fries cost $7, and a domestic beer runs $2 during happy hour. But the conversation at its neon crescent-shaped bar centers on gasoline — prices approaching $5 a gallon across this northeastern Ohio city, one of the state's most visible victims of manufacturing decline.

Residents disagree fiercely on who is to blame. 'It's because of that damn war' with Iran, said Tom Goodman, 47, who patches together work around town and describes himself as an independent. 'Trump can go ride back into the sunset on whatever white horse he rode in on because he didn't help the country.'

On the other side of the debate, contractor Chris Vitello, a self-described 'very pro Trumper,' dismissed immediate concern about the conflict: 'I'm not too worked up about this Iran war thing right now. I know it'll come to an end. We'll get the straits open,' he said, referring to the strategic waterway tied to the global oil supply squeeze. 'Oil'll come down rapidly. The markets will shoot up. The economy, I think, is about to burst open.'

Why Ohio Matters

Those barstool exchanges reflect a broader contest unfolding across Ohio. The state is central to Democrats' hopes of retaking the Senate and blunting the influence of former President Donald Trump and his allies. At the center is a high-profile special Senate race: Sherrod Brown, a former senator who lost re-election in 2024, is challenging incumbent Republican Jon Husted for the seat that JD Vance won in 2022. Husted was appointed to finish that term after Vance became vice-president.

Tuesday's primary is expected to nominate both Brown and Husted for the November special election. The victor will serve the remaining two years of Vance's term and could shape the Senate's balance of power.

Money, Messaging and the Mahoning Valley

The Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, has singled out Ohio as one of four states vital to flipping the chamber, and both parties are preparing for intense, expensive campaigning. The Senate GOP's super PAC has pledged $79 million in Ohio, and a Democratic-aligned super PAC is expected to match heavy spending.

Both campaigns know their paths to victory likely run through Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, a region synonymous with blue-collar hardship since deindustrialization. Brown has long cast himself as a defender of working-class voters: he began in the state legislature in 1974, served as Ohio secretary of state, then represented Ohio in the U.S. House before winning a Senate seat in 2006.

But working-class loyalties have shifted over the past decade. Counties that once reliably backed Democrats have trended right — in 2024, voters in parts of the Mahoning Valley rejected Brown in favor of Republican Bernie Moreno, a result Brown attributed to Trump's statewide strength.

Brown has leaned into his populist, anti–special-interest message. Speaking to supporters at a brewery outside Youngstown, he framed Husted as aligned with big oil and other powerful interests driving up costs. 'It's who I am. It's why I'm running. It's to take on special interest groups,' Brown said. 'People want somebody that will fight back.'

'There's this faith in him that Donald Trump has... even when they disagree, they're not going to abandon him.' — Paul Sracic, political scientist

Analysts caution that Trump's endorsement retains significant sway. Paul Sracic, a longtime political science professor at Youngstown State University, said Trump's personal influence remains powerful among his base and could decisively help Husted in places like the Mahoning Valley.

Scandals, Gubernatorial Races and Local Sentiment

Republicans also face vulnerabilities. The state is still dealing with fallout from a long-running corruption scandal involving the power company FirstEnergy, a controversy that occurred while Husted was lieutenant governor. Husted testified as a defense witness in a trial earlier this year but has not been charged. Brown's campaign has used the scandal in advertising, and some voters say those ads have made an impact.

Local reactions are mixed. 'I just don't like the guy. He just projects to me as a bullshit politician,' said 79-year-old Marty McKenna, pausing at Golden Dawn for breakfast. 'Christ, this is Youngstown. We've seen a million bullshit politicians. Look what happened to us. We're a perfect example of being lied to.' Yet McKenna said an ad tying Husted to FirstEnergy gave him second thoughts: 'I liked him until I saw that ad.'

Meanwhile, the likely GOP gubernatorial nominee, Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and 2024 presidential contender, could create drag for Republicans down-ballot if he struggles to win broad support. Democrats believe Ramaswamy's profile may boost their candidates, including presumptive gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton and Brown.

Voter allegiances are shifting in unpredictable ways. Ron Yacobony, 71, who voted libertarian in 2022 and backed Moreno over Brown in 2024, plans to vote straight Democratic this year because he is angry about perceived overreach by the president. His wife, Darlene, who previously supported Trump, said she is considering voting Democratic as well.

Outlook

With high gasoline prices, lingering economic malaise and nationalized political messaging, Ohio's special Senate race has become a focal point for both parties. The contest will test whether Democrats can reclaim lost working-class voters and whether Republican loyalty to Trump-style endorsements remains decisive. Either way, the Mahoning Valley will be a place to watch as national money and messaging pour into the state ahead of November.