Democrats in Ohio have lost badly in recent years. But Democrats in the state and nationally say that in 2026 they’ll finally turn it around.
With high-stakes gubernatorial and Senate races playing out in Ohio, the state will be back in the national political spotlight. Democrats are lining themselves up accordingly: The Democratic National Committee has promised significant funding in the state, is staffing up to increase organizing efforts and is thrilled about at least one dream candidate.
“We can’t just focus on a couple of states and expect to perform well nationally,” Ohio Democratic Chair Kathleen Clyde told NOTUS. “When we look toward the 2026 midterm elections, we know that the path to taking the U.S. House and U.S. Senate back goes straight through Ohio.”
“We definitely think that this coming cycle gives Ohio Democrats the biggest opportunity we’ve had since 2006,” Clyde said, adding that the mix of competitive races will make the state a higher priority.
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Once considered a national bellwether, Ohio has moved to the right since President Donald Trump’s first victory in 2016. Democrats have struggled in the state, most recently with former Vice President Kamala Harris, who never campaigned there during her run and lost the state by 11 percentage points in 2024.
Downballot races have also grown increasingly dire. Democrats have not controlled the governor’s office since 2011. Last year, former Sen. Sherrod Brown lost reelection to Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno.
It has caused soul searching on the ground and at the national level.
Tina Maharath, a Democrat and former state senator, said the national Democratic brand has not been clear about its platform, even though many of the issues it supports are ultimately successful with voters. Democrats in recent years have picked up major victories through ballot initiatives related to abortion rights and marijuana legalization by wide margins, but have failed to get their candidates elected.
“There is no branding,” Maharath said about the Democratic Party. “We could win some ballot initiatives. Why can’t we win statewide? We’re not winning statewide because whatever messaging they’re shooting out there, it’s not connecting to the Democratic Party that is currently on the ground.”
Meanwhile, national operations are preparing to lean in again, insisting they haven’t fully lost their grip on the state.
Democrats say that 2026 will be a rare perfect storm to take back long-lost ground. Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited, and freshman Sen. Jon Husted lacks the name recognition of his opponent, Brown. Democrats are convinced that while Ohio has supported Trump in elections, his support is waning and doesn’t translate to other races when his name is not on the ballot.
“There is no evidence that this state isn’t competitive anymore. The Trump of it all has skewed people’s idea of how competitive the state is,” a Democratic strategist in Ohio told NOTUS.
The DNC hasn’t been specific about its statewide efforts, but Chair Ken Martin has said they are all aimed to build back local infrastructure and refocus to go on offense in Ohio.
“When you organize everywhere, you can win anywhere. In Ohio, there are opportunities for Democrats to win across the ticket next year,” Abhi Rahman, a spokesperson for the DNC, told NOTUS in a statement. “The DNC is ensuring that Ohio Democrats have the resources they need to go on offense, reach voters, and build the infrastructure to win big in 2026 and beyond.”
It’s the type of investment that is welcomed by locals.
“I’m very pleased,” David Brock, the Democratic chair of Cuyahoga County, said of the party’s new direction. “We had been, by and large, ignored.”
Democrats got a major boost when Brown decided to run against Husted. The three-term senator has consistently overperformed his party, losing to Sen. Bernie Moreno by only three percentage points in 2024, while Harris lost by double digits.
“Sherrod Brown is the best possible candidate for this race,” Maddy McDaniel, a spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said in a statement.
Recent polling gave Democrats another shot of optimism.
Brown and Democratic presumptive nominee for Governor Amy Acton both led by one percent above their Republican rivals in October polling from Bowling Green State University. Although well within the margin of error, Democrats have been cheered by it.
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This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS and Signal Ohio.
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