Ohio Becomes a Midterm Battleground After Years of Republican Wins as Key Races Tighten

Economic worries shape the debate

In Youngstown, abandoned factories along the Mahoning River reflect decades of lost jobs. Recent closures have added to those concerns: Schwebel bakery shut down after 120 years, and AT&T is closing a Boardman call center that employed hundreds of union workers.

Candidates are connecting household costs and the region’s economic struggles to their campaigns. Democrat Sherrod Brown, who won three Senate races before losing two years ago, argues that Republican policies have made life more expensive.

Two races draw close attention

Republican Jon Husted, appointed to the Senate seat last year, has cited his father’s layoff after an Ohio factory closed. Husted supports tax cuts he voted for and argues Brown had three decades to address the state’s problems.

Taxes and national issues matter

Rising gas prices linked to the war with Iran have tested even some of President Trump’s allies. Husted said the war should end so prices can fall. A pizza shop owner described how higher costs affect deliveries and supplies, including cheese, flour and boxes.

Voters weigh the stakes

Early voting is underway, and voters see the races as connected to national politics as well as Ohio’s future. Some expressed concern that Congress is not checking Trump; another voter said keeping Republican control could help him in the second half of his term.

In Youngstown, the stakes also feel local, amid continuing concerns about jobs and the region’s recovery. Voters will decide on Election Day which candidates they believe.