Brown Courts Tuscarawas County Voters in U.S. Senate Comeback Bid
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 11, 2026) — Sherrod Brown is trying to make inroads with Tuscarawas County voters as he seeks a return to the U.S. Senate.
The Democrat spoke to a packed house Monday at Daily Grind Café in New Philadelphia. Brown is running this fall against Republican incumbent Jon Husted.
Despite Tuscarawas County voters backing Donald Trump by about 70 percent in 2024, Brown said he believes his message can still connect locally.
“I don’t think voters voted for this war that’s gone on for five months. I don’t think they voted for higher gas prices and diesel prices. I don’t think truckers voted for these diesel prices,” Brown said. “I know that people know I’ll fight. I’ll take on the drug companies, I’ll take on Wall Street and fight for them as I have my whole career.”
Brown said he entered the race because he does not believe many Ohioans feel heard in Washington.
“I’ve come to Dover, New Phila, Uhrichsville, Dennison, Strasburg and all over for years,” Brown said. “I know this community. I’ve been here a zillion times. I know its hospital, I know its high schools, and I’ll continue to fight for people.”
Brown lost his Senate seat in 2024 after three terms, falling to Bernie Moreno, but said what he has seen in Washington over the last two years pushed him to run again.
“It was what was happening — the rich getting richer, working families getting screwed,” Brown said. “I just saw people were saying, ‘Nope, we don’t have a voice.’ And I thought I should step up.”
Brown received about 32 percent of the vote in Tuscarawas County in 2024, but he said he still sees a chance to gain ground locally.
“All these people — listen to the noise in the background — 150-whatever people here in the middle of the day, feeling like they’re afraid of what’s happening to their country,” Brown said. “And I’m there for them.”
Statewide, Brown finished with about 46 percent of the vote in his 2024 loss to Moreno.