U.S. Senate, Ohio · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Ohio U.S. Senate race?
Jon Husted has the strongest record in the Ohio U.S. Senate race. Jon Husted scores 71 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Sherrod Brown at 69, as of October 9, 2026. Jon Husted's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Sherrod Brown's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Stephen Faris (1 of 15 criteria), Anthony Holliman (0 of 15 criteria), Greg Levy (5 of 15 criteria), Bill Redpath (6 of 15 criteria) and Timothy Telymonde (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Sherrod Brown
69 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 75
Write-in
Stephen Faris
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Anthony Holliman
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Jon Husted
71 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 83
Independent
Greg Levy
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- Performance
- NR
Libertarian
Bill Redpath
On the ballot as William B. Redpath
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Timothy Telymonde
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 0 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- NR
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Sherrod Brown
- On the record2026-09-09
FactCheck.org found his campaign ad tying Husted to the FirstEnergy bribery scandal left the wrong impression that Husted had been accused or charged.
Source: FactCheck.org, Sept. 9, 2026
- On the record2024-07-19
Said President Biden should end his 2024 campaign.
Source: Ballotpedia, Sherrod Brown
- On the record2023-11-08
Was one of four Democrats voting for S.J.Res. 38 to overturn a Biden administration rule; the resolution passed and Biden vetoed it.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 303 (2023), GovTrack, S.J.Res. 38 (118th Congress)
- Credit2021 to 2025
Chaired the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Credit2021-11-15
His Build America, Buy America Act (S. 1303) was enacted as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Sources: GovTrack, S. 1303 (117th Congress), GovTrack, Sherrod Brown
- Credit1993 to 2024
Primary sponsor of 31 enacted bills over his House and Senate career.
Source: GovTrack, Sherrod Brown
Stephen Faris
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Anthony Holliman
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Jon Husted
- On the record2026-10-03
PolitiFact rated False his rally claim that Brown gave immigrants in the country illegally Social Security money, free health care and COVID checks.
Source: PolitiFact, Oct. 3, 2026
- On the record2025-04
Protesters outside an April 2025 Cincinnati fundraiser demanded an in-person town hall, which the Cincinnati Enquirer reported he had not held.
- On the record2021 to 2023
His Ohio Ethics Commission disclosures list gifts from JobsOhio in 2021, 2022 and 2023 while he was lieutenant governor; Ohio law requires the source but not the value.
- On the record2019 to 2026
Backed House Bill 6, the nuclear bailout at the center of the FirstEnergy bribery case; FactCheck.org reported he has not been charged with or accused of wrongdoing and that he offered testimony.
Source: FactCheck.org, Sept. 9, 2026
- On the record2018-06-11
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute that Ohio's process for removing voters on change-of-residence grounds does not violate federal law.
- On the record2017-06-30
As secretary of state, said Ohio would give President Trump's election integrity commission only publicly available voter information.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Husted
- On the record2012-10
A federal appeals court affirmed a ruling against him and the attorney general over limits on early voting; after the Supreme Court declined review he ordered early voting opened statewide.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Husted
- Credit2025 to 2026
Primary sponsor of S. 2529, on prescription to over-the-counter drug switches, whose provisions were enacted through H.R. 5371.
Sources: GovTrack, S. 2529 (119th Congress), Columbus Dispatch (USA Today Network), Sept. 22, 2026
- Credit2025-01 to 2026-09
Missed none of 907 Senate roll call votes from January 2025 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Greg Levy
- On the record2026-09-28
Spoke at Ohio State as an independent Senate candidate affiliated with the Party for Socialism and Liberation; volunteers gathered 15,000 signatures to place him on the ballot.
Source: The Lantern, Sept. 29, 2026
Bill Redpath
- On the record2006 to 2010
Chaired the Libertarian National Committee from 2006 to 2010.
Source: Ballotpedia, Bill Redpath, Candidate Connection survey
- Credit2016
Inducted into the Libertarian Party Hall of Liberty in 2016, per his Ballotpedia survey.
Source: Ballotpedia, Bill Redpath, Candidate Connection survey
Timothy Telymonde
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Sherrod Brown. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no Senate Ethics Committee finding found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine and no Senate Ethics Committee finding found. His Senate periodic transaction reports were not checked (see notes).
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search
Greg Levy. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search
Bill Redpath. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Sherrod Brown. On July 19, 2024, called on President Biden, his party's nominee, to withdraw. In November 2023 he was one of four Democrats voting for S.J.Res. 38 to overturn a Biden administration rule; Biden vetoed it.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sherrod Brown, GovTrack, Senate Vote 303 (2023), GovTrack, S.J.Res. 38 (118th Congress)
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. As secretary of state in June 2017, he announced Ohio would give President Trump's election integrity commission only publicly available voter information, withholding confidential data the commission requested.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Husted
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Sherrod Brown. No public record found.
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. No public record found.
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Sherrod Brown. Held office in the Ohio House, as Ohio secretary of state, in the U.S. House and in the U.S. Senate from 1975 to 2025. No censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Sherrod Brown
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. Has held state and federal office since 2001, including Ohio House speaker, secretary of state and lieutenant governor. No censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Husted
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Sherrod Brown. Voted Nay on both January 2021 Senate objections to certified electors and Nay on the January 2005 House objection to Ohio's electors. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 1 (2021), GovTrack, Senate Vote 2 (2021), House Clerk Roll Call 7, 2005
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. Took oaths as legislator, secretary of state, lieutenant governor and senator. After a 2012 appeals court ruling against him on early voting, he ordered early voting opened statewide. No recorded action to reject certified results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Husted
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Sherrod Brown. U.S. senator from 2007 to 2025 (three terms), U.S. representative from 1993 to 2007 and Ohio secretary of state from 1983 to 1991.
Source: Ballotpedia, Sherrod Brown
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. U.S. senator since January 2025; previously lieutenant governor (2019 to 2025), secretary of state (2011 to 2019), state senator and four terms as a state representative (2001 to 2009), including speaker.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jon Husted
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. Had a 38-year career in business valuation and is a licensed CPA; chaired the Libertarian National Committee from 2006 to 2010. No government service.
Source: Ballotpedia, Bill Redpath, Candidate Connection survey
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Sherrod Brown. Chaired the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee in his last term and a Finance subcommittee. Answered the Columbus Dispatch's 2026 issue questions.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sherrod Brown, committee assignments, Columbus Dispatch (USA Today Network), Sept. 22, 2026
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. Serves on the Appropriations, HELP, Environment and Public Works, Small Business and Aging committees, with no chair or ranking post. Answered the Columbus Dispatch's issue questions on cost of living, tariffs and health care through his campaign.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Columbus Dispatch (USA Today Network), Sept. 22, 2026
Greg Levy. Publishes a platform in general terms, including public ownership of large corporations and a national rent cap.
Source: Campaign site, platform
Bill Redpath. Publishes issue positions, including ending all tariffs and cutting federal spending, in general terms.
Sources: Campaign site, Ballotpedia, Bill Redpath, Candidate Connection survey
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Sherrod Brown. Answered the Columbus Dispatch's 2026 Senate candidate questions. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey. No 2026 debate held.
Sources: Columbus Dispatch (USA Today Network), Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Sherrod Brown
Stephen Faris. Publishes a single-issue position page on his campaign site. One channel.
Source: Campaign site
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. Answered the Columbus Dispatch's 2026 Senate candidate questions through his campaign, publishes an e-mail newsletter and holds telephone town halls. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Columbus Dispatch (USA Today Network), Sept. 22, 2026, Senate office newsletter, April 9, 2026 (Wayback Machine), Ballotpedia, Jon Husted
Greg Levy. Publishes a platform and spoke at public campus events, including Ohio State on Sept. 28, 2026. Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: Campaign site, platform, The Lantern, Sept. 29, 2026
Bill Redpath. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the Columbus Dispatch's Senate candidate questions, publishes issue pages and gave a WKBN interview.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bill Redpath, Columbus Dispatch (USA Today Network), Sept. 22, 2026, Campaign site
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Sherrod Brown. Born in Mansfield, Ohio, and held Ohio offices for five decades. About 40 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through June 30, 2026 came from Ohio (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sherrod Brown, FEC contribution totals by state
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. Born in Michigan in 1967, educated at the University of Dayton and in Ohio public office since 2001. About 54 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through June 30, 2026 came from Ohio (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jon Husted, FEC contribution totals by state
Greg Levy. Raised in Akron per his campaign. About 97 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through June 30, 2026 came from Ohio (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Campaign site, About Greg, FEC contribution totals by state
Bill Redpath. Born and raised in Findlay and lives in Perrysburg. FEC by-state totals show no itemized individual contributions from Ohio through June 30, 2026 (all $5,750 itemized came from other states).
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bill Redpath, Candidate Connection survey, FEC contribution totals by state
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Sherrod Brown. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine. Headed the secretary of state's office for eight years; no size or performance measure found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search
Greg Levy. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine found.
Bill Redpath. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026, with no administrative fine found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Sherrod Brown. Legislative Effectiveness Score met expectations in the 118th Congress (0.974 against a benchmark of 1.521). Primary sponsor of 31 enacted bills, most recently S. 1973 (118th), the All-American Flag Act.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking Senate dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, Sherrod Brown
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. No Center for Effective Lawmaking score yet (first term, 119th Congress). Primary sponsor of two enacted measures, including S. 2529 on prescription to over-the-counter drug switches, enacted through H.R. 5371.
Sources: GovTrack, Jon Husted, GovTrack, S. 2529 (119th Congress), Columbus Dispatch (USA Today Network), Sept. 22, 2026
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Sherrod Brown. Missed 79 of 5,945 roll call votes, 1.3 percent, through December 2024.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. Missed 0 of 907 roll call votes, 0.0 percent, from January 2025 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Sherrod Brown. No public record found.
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. His office reports offices across Ohio, a casework form for federal agencies and regular telephone town halls, one of which it says reached more than 435,000 northern Ohioans. No published casework totals found.
Source: Senate office newsletter, April 9, 2026 (Wayback Machine)
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Sherrod Brown. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index, 118th Congress first session (2023): score 0.12565, rank 39 of the Senate. Positive, not top quarter.
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. No public record found.
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Sherrod Brown. No public record found.
Stephen Faris. No public record found.
Anthony Holliman. No public record found.
Jon Husted. No public record found.
Greg Levy. No public record found.
Bill Redpath. No public record found.
Timothy Telymonde. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Ohio U.S. Senate race?
Jon Husted has the strongest record in the Ohio U.S. Senate race. Jon Husted scores 71 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Sherrod Brown at 69, as of October 9, 2026. Jon Husted's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Sherrod Brown's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Stephen Faris (1 of 15 criteria), Anthony Holliman (0 of 15 criteria), Greg Levy (5 of 15 criteria), Bill Redpath (6 of 15 criteria) and Timothy Telymonde (0 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Ohio U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Sherrod Brown (Democratic), Stephen Faris (Write-in), Anthony Holliman (Write-in), Jon Husted (Republican, incumbent), Greg Levy (Independent), Bill Redpath (Libertarian), Timothy Telymonde (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Sherrod Brown a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Sherrod Brown scores 69 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Stephen Faris a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Stephen Faris has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Anthony Holliman a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Anthony Holliman has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Jon Husted a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Jon Husted scores 71 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 83 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Greg Levy a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Greg Levy has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Bill Redpath a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Bill Redpath has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Timothy Telymonde a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Timothy Telymonde has public evidence on 0 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Ohio race scored, the trailing candidate's path to victory, and the Ohio 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.