Jon Husted sitting on $2.6 million for 2026 U.S. Senate race, as Sherrod Brown mulls run

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- While Democrat Sherrod Brown is mulling a return to the U.S. Senate, Republican Sen. Jon Husted has $2.6 million on hand to retain his seat in 2026.

Husted raised more than $3 million from the start of 2025 to the end of June, including $1.7 million from contributions and $1.4 million from affiliated committees, according to the Federal Election Commission. During that period, about $406,000 was spent on operating expenditures, leaving the campaign with $2.6 million.

Of that sum, $1.1 million was raised during the first quarter this year, between January and March, and $2 million was raised in the second quarter from April through June, FEC records show. The campaign said in a release that Husted, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate in January, has "quickly demonstrated that he intends to continue his winning streak that began with his first election in 2000."

"We continue to see growing momentum in every corner of Ohio for Senator Husted," said Tyson Shepard, Husted's campaign spokesperson, in a release boasting the quarter two haul. "This quarter's strong showing demonstrates that Jon is building the operation required to achieve a decisive victory in 2026." Watch a previous NBC4 report on Husted's appointment in the video player above.

Husted has been collecting cash without yet having to face a Republican or Democratic challenger. That may soon change as Brown, who was defeated last November by Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, is said to be entering the race against Husted, according to multiple media outlets.

Financially, Brown will be starting fresh. The former senator finished last year's race with $394,000 on hand, which he then funneled into a political action committee called "Dignity of Work." The effort coincided with Brown's creation in March of the Dignity of Work Institute, a nonprofit group to address working-class issues like low wages and home ownership.

The PAC then raised $112,000 but spent $493,000, most of which was on operating expenditures, according to FEC records. Now, the PAC has about $12,000 on hand.

Brown's race against Moreno was the most expensive in the nation last fall, with a record-breaking $483 million spent, the highest for any nonpresidential election on record, according to AdImpact. Republicans cashed in $251 million for Moreno, while Democrats spent $232 million to boost Brown.

The winner of the 2026 race for Ohio's U.S. Senate seat will be completing current Vice President JD Vance's original term, which runs through 2028. If that senator wants to serve a full six-year term, they will need to run again in 2028.

Husted's campaign touted his endorsements from the Ohio Republican Party, Ohio Values Voters and 100% of the county Republican parties that have endorsed so far. At the start of quarter two, Husted received the backing of President Donald Trump, who offered his "complete and total endorsement" of the senator.

"This is a true team effort," Husted said in a release. "Ohioans are rallying behind our efforts exceptionally early because of our proven track record of delivering wins for Ohio. I will never take their support or trust for granted."