Key facts
- Early voting began Tuesday in Ohio.
- The state has one Senate seat and two House seats considered 'Toss Ups'.
- Inflation and the war with Iran are key issues for voters.
- President Donald Trump's approval rating is at a record-low 32%.
- Democrat Sherrod Brown is challenging Republican Jon Husted for a Senate seat.
- Republican Representative Max Miller faces Democrat Brian Poindexter in the seventh congressional district.
- Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur is running against Republican Derek Merrin in the ninth congressional district.
Early voting commenced Tuesday in Ohio, a state with several closely contested races that could decide which party controls the US Congress for the next two years. The midterm elections are taking place amid widespread voter discontent, particularly concerning rising prices.
Political analysts are closely monitoring Ohio, where President Donald Trump has maintained a strong influence, especially among blue-collar voters who historically aligned with Democrats. However, with inflation at approximately 3.4%, escalating costs for energy and housing, coupled with rising food prices, are fueling voter dissatisfaction. The war with Iran, initiated by Trump on February 28 without clear public justification, also raises concerns about a prolonged conflict.
Trump secured Ohio's 17 electoral votes in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential elections, despite losing the latter to Democrat Joe Biden. This election cycle will reveal whether disaffected Democrats return to their party and if independent voters shift away from Trump's Republicans.
In the Senate race, Democrat Sherrod Brown, who previously served 18 years before being unseated by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, is seeking to regain his seat. He faces Republican Jon Husted in a race considered a toss-up. Democrats aim for a net gain of at least four Senate seats to secure control of the chamber, currently held by Republicans with a 53-47 majority.
Two US House races are also pivotal for determining the chamber's majority, currently held by Republicans with a 218-214 margin, with one independent aligned with Republicans and two vacancies to be filled. In the seventh congressional district, Republican Representative Max Miller is in a competitive race for his third term against Democrat Brian Poindexter. Despite raising more funds and securing Trump's endorsement in a Republican-leaning district, Miller faces allegations of domestic violence, which he denies. Meanwhile, in the ninth congressional district, Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur, first elected in 1982, is in a toss-up contest against Republican challenger Derek Merrin.