Scoop: Jon Husted snatches third union endorsement from Sherrod Brown
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Sen. Jon Husted. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) has won the backing of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66, giving him his third labor endorsement from a group that supported former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in 2024.
Why it matters: Both candidates are courting the labor vote in the 2026 Ohio Senate race as if their political lives depend on it.
- Brown is seeking redemption with a comeback bid after his defeat in 2024. He spent three terms in the Senate as one of labor's biggest backers.
- But some unions, at the national and state levels, are moving toward Republicans. Husted wants to accelerate that trend and undercut Brown's traditional base.
Driving the news: Local 66, which represents three counties in the northeast part of the state, is joining Local 18 of the IUOE in endorsing Husted, giving the incumbent support from affiliated unions in all 88 of Ohio's counties.
- "The Mahoning Valley is the backbone of Ohio's working class. Senator Jon Husted leads with action, not just photo ops or political talking points," Jesse DiRenna, business manager for IUOE Local 66 said in a statement first provided to Axios.
- "His values align with ours, which is why we proudly support him."
- "I'm proud to have the endorsement of Operating Engineers Local 66," Husted said. "These men and women know the value of hard work and personal responsibility.
Zoom out: In September, the Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council and IUOE Local 18, flipped their support from Brown and endorsed the GOP incumbent for reelection.
- "We have had a relationship with Senator Husted and we like what he has done for our members and we look forward to continuing that relationship," said Michael Bertolone, business manager for IUOE Local 18, which covers most of the state.
Zoom in: Republicans running for statewide office have been making inroads with local unions, but they have struggled at the federal level.
- "As someone who tried to get union support in the last two Senate races, it's a significant feat for Husted to get these three huge endorsements," said Bryan Gray, the campaign manager for Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) in 2024.
The other side: Brown still has significant union backing. In September, he announced the endorsements from United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 75, 880 and 1059, and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 390.
- In addition, he has the endorsements of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters and other unions.
- "Senator Husted voted to shut down the government and spike health care costs for half a million Ohioans and supports reckless tariffs that are driving up costs across the state," said Patrick Eisenhauer, Brown's campaign manager.
- "That's why so many Ohioans want Sherrod Brown fighting for them in Washington, instead of Senator Husted's blind loyalty to billionaires and corporations," he said.
