Brown and Acton Say Ohio Voters Want Change as Democrats Keep Races Tight

Ohio Democrats told supporters on Aug. 1 they are betting voter frustration with President Donald Trump, rising living costs and years of Republican control will keep statewide contests competitive this fall.

At the Ohio Democratic Party's annual dinner, former Sen. Sherrod Brown — now campaigning to return to the U.S. Senate — and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton argued their Republican opponents are out of touch with everyday Ohioans.

Acton Emphasizes Working-Class Roots

Acton leaned into her Youngstown background, calling herself "an Ohio girl" and evoking the neighborhood values she says shaped her outlook: watching out for neighbors and standing up for community fairness. She contrasted that upbringing with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati-area–raised biotech entrepreneur and major fundraiser who has drawn large outside spending.

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly speaks at the annual Ohio Democratic Party dinner on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at the Convention Center in Columbus.

Acton — who served as Ohio’s director of health during the COVID-19 pandemic — has kept the governor’s race competitive in polls despite heavy ad spending from Ramaswamy allies. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently donated $5 million to a super PAC supporting Ramaswamy, a move Acton said "hasn’t moved the needle." "You cannot buy this state. You can't buy us," she told cheering Democrats.

Brown Seeks Senate Comeback, Targets Data Centers

Brown, running to unseat Republican Sen. Jon Husted, emphasized pocketbook issues: wages that fail to keep pace with costs for utilities, health care and groceries. He also attacked the rapid growth of energy-intensive data centers in Ohio, saying they "gobble up energy, devour land and drain water resources, then leave communities with the bill." Acton has proposed a conditional moratorium on new data centers that do not meet specified criteria.

Husted spokesperson Amy Natoce pushed back, blaming Brown’s policy positions for higher energy costs and noting voters previously rejected Brown. "Ohioans fired Sherrod Brown once already, and they won't forget why," she said.

Gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton speaks at the annual Ohio Democratic Party dinner on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at the Convention Center in Columbus.

National Figures, Local Strategy

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly headlined the event as he weighs future plans, recounting his clashes with President Trump and warning that economic pressures are squeezing younger voters. "They are doing everything right—working hard, saving what they can—and the system still isn't working for them," he said.

State Democrats also highlighted a full statewide ticket: Annette Blackwell for state auditor; John J. Kulewicz for attorney general; Rep. Allison Russo for secretary of state; Cincinnati councilman Seth Walsh for treasurer; and Marilyn Zayas and Jennifer Brunner for the Ohio Supreme Court.

House Democrat Dani Isaacsohn stressed the importance of breaking the Republicans' veto-proof majority in the Ohio House, saying sustaining a Democratic governor's veto would be critical to preventing special-interest agendas from becoming law.

"Our state is at an inflection point... We're in the ninth inning of a Guardian's game. The bases are loaded. This is in our hands," Ohio Democratic Party leader Kathleen Clyde said, using a baseball metaphor to rally supporters.

Reporting note: State government reporter Jessie Balmert contributed reporting. This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch.