Obama and Trump bring presidential star power to Ohio's midterm races
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Former President Barack Obama. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Ohio's biggest political races are bringing out the big guns, with former President Barack Obama joining President Trump in campaigning in the Buckeye State before the Nov. 3 election.
Why it matters: The high-profile visits underscore the national stakes of our U.S. Senate race, which could determine control of the chamber, plus a competitive governor's contest.
Driving the news: Obama will headline a Cleveland rally on Oct. 24 alongside Democratic Senate candidate Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton.
State of play: Republicans have already deployed their biggest political names to Ohio.
- Trump rallied supporters near Dayton on Oct. 3 and Youngstown on Monday, while Vance appeared in Lima on Oct. 9.
- The appearances have focused on boosting Sen. Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
What they're saying: During Monday's rally, Trump emphasized Ohio's importance to Republicans, noting it is among the few states where he held two rallies this election cycle.
- He also announced that Cleveland had been selected for a 46,000-square-foot facility to manufacture, repair and maintain U.S. Navy submarine components, crediting Husted with helping secure the project.
The big picture: Ohio has shifted decidedly Republican in presidential elections. Trump carried the state by 11 percentage points in 2024, while Obama won in both 2008 and 2012.
Yes, but: Statewide contests are attracting renewed national attention.
- Ohio was on track as of last week to host the country's most expensive Senate race, in terms of ad spending and reservations.
The bottom line: Both parties are leaning on their biggest political names to energize supporters and drive turnout in the final weeks of the midterm campaign.