Ohio's political landscape just went through a massive earthquake. Honestly, if you haven't checked the roster in a few months, you might not even recognize the names representing the Buckeye State in the U.S. Senate. Gone is the decades-long "odd couple" dynamic of Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman (or later JD Vance).
Today, Ohio is represented by Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted.
It’s a total GOP sweep. For the first time in nearly twenty years, Democrats don't hold a single statewide elected office in Ohio except for one lonely Supreme Court seat. But how did we get here? And who are these guys, really?
The Moreno Surge: From Car Dealerships to the Capitol
Bernie Moreno's path to the Senate wasn't exactly traditional. He wasn't a career politician. He was the guy you saw on TV commercials for luxury car dealerships in Cleveland.
Moreno unseated Sherrod Brown in the November 2024 election. That was a huge deal. Brown was seen as "untouchable" by many because of his blue-collar, populist appeal. But Moreno, backed heavily by Donald Trump, flipped the script. He leaned hard into his immigrant story—moving from Colombia to the U.S. as a young child—and framed himself as a businessman who knew how to balance a checkbook.
You've probably heard the rumors about his campaign being just about "Trump's blessing." While that endorsement was the rocket fuel, Moreno’s actual work in the Senate so far has focused on some pretty specific technical areas. He’s been a loud voice on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Given his background in business and his recent interest in blockchain technology, he’s basically trying to position Ohio as a hub for "new tech" finance.
Jon Husted: The Appointment That Surprised (And Didn't)
Then there’s Jon Husted. His presence in the Senate is the result of a game of political musical chairs.
When JD Vance was elected Vice President in 2024, his Senate seat became vacant. Governor Mike DeWine had to pick a replacement. There was a lot of chatter. Would he pick Vivek Ramaswamy? Would he pick a more moderate Republican?
In January 2025, DeWine tapped his own Lieutenant Governor, Jon Husted.
Husted is a veteran of Columbus politics. He’s been the Speaker of the Ohio House and the Secretary of State. Basically, he knows where all the bodies are buried in Ohio state government. He’s much more of a "traditional" Republican than the populist wing of the party often prefers, but he’s aligned himself closely with the Trump-Vance agenda since taking the seat.
Why the 2026 Special Election Matters
Here is the thing most people forget: Husted isn't "safe" yet.
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Because he was appointed to fill Vance's vacancy, he has to run in a special election in November 2026 to keep the seat for the remainder of the term. That means Ohio is about to enter another grueling, multi-million dollar campaign cycle almost immediately.
Kinda exhausting, right?
Sherrod Brown has already signaled he might want his old job back (or at least, the Democrats are begging him to try). The 2026 special election will determine if Ohio’s shift to deep red is permanent or if the 2024 results were just a temporary wave.
The Dynamic in DC
In Washington, Moreno and Husted are a unified front. They don't have the "bipartisan friction" that Brown and Vance had. This means Ohio's legislative priorities are now strictly conservative.
- Energy: Both senators are pushing for expanded natural gas drilling in the Utica and Marcellus shale regions of Eastern Ohio.
- Manufacturing: They are focused on the "Intel Effect," ensuring the massive chip plant in Licking County stays on schedule with federal subsidies.
- Immigration: Moreno, in particular, has used his personal history to advocate for merit-based immigration while calling for stricter border controls.
It's a different world for Ohio voters.
If you're trying to get a hold of your current Ohio US senators, you’ll find their offices in the Russell Senate Office Building (Moreno) and the Hart Senate Office Building (Husted).
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Next Steps for You
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on Ohio's representation, keep an eye on the Senate Daily Digest for Husted’s committee assignments, as these will likely be his primary talking points for the 2026 campaign. You should also check the official Senate.gov website to see how their voting records align with local Ohio interests like the 2025 Farm Bill or regional infrastructure grants.
Knowing who represents you is the first step; seeing what they actually do when the cameras are off is the second.