Key facts
- President Donald Trump will campaign in Ohio on Saturday.
- Republican Senator Jon Husted is in a tight race against Democrat Sherrod Brown.
- Ohio gasoline prices have increased 35% over the past year to $4.16 per gallon.
- Canadian tariffs affect about $3 billion worth of Ohio exports, based on 2025 figures.
- The Husted-Brown Senate race is the second-most-expensive in the country.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to campaign in Ohio on Saturday, aiming to bolster Republican Senator Jon Husted in a closely contested race against Democrat Sherrod Brown. The visit is part of an effort to help Republicans retain their narrow congressional majority amid challenges including persistent inflation and falling approval ratings for Trump.
Multiple Republican senators nationwide are facing difficult re-election campaigns. Trump's popularity has reportedly declined in recent months, coinciding with sustained high prices for gasoline and other essential goods, exacerbated by the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. Senator Husted hopes Trump's presence will motivate his supporters to vote in the midterm elections.
Despite Trump securing over 55% of the vote in Ohio during the 2024 presidential election, economic concerns have become more prominent. Average gasoline prices in Ohio have risen 35% in the past year to $4.16 per gallon, according to AAA. Additionally, Trump's trade policies have resulted in retaliatory Canadian tariffs impacting approximately $3 billion worth of Ohio exports, based on 2025 figures cited by a CBC report.
Trump has committed to campaigning for 32 days leading up to the midterm elections. He recently visited conservative regions in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama, where he received a positive reception. On Thursday, Trump told workers at a Texas truck plant that the current high prices are not his fault and that he needs to do a better job of highlighting the nation's economic progress.
Ohio is one of eight US Senate races considered competitive. The state has become a focal point for campaign efforts, addressing issues such as data centers and cultural topics like youth transgender surgeries. Outside political groups have invested tens of millions of dollars in Ohio, making the Husted-Brown race the second-most expensive Senate contest nationally, according to Federal Election Commission filings. A campaign spokesperson for Husted stated that Husted worked with Trump on tax cuts and other economic measures, and criticized Biden and Brown on border policy. Brown's campaign did not provide a comment.