Ohio’s Political Landscape: Is It Still a Swing State?
The Bowling Green State University Democracy and Public Policy Research Network conducted a poll of 800 registered Ohio voters last month, revealing a tight race in several key political contests.
Senate Race Tight Between Brown and Husted
Former Senator Sherrod Brown and current Senator Jon Husted are in a close contest for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat. The poll results place them nearly even, with the margin of error being 4.5%.
Gubernatorial Race Shows Ramaswamy Leading
In the race for Ohio governor, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy holds a slight lead over former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton and former U.S. official Ryan, who has not officially declared candidacy. All results remain within the margin of error.
“Ohio will certainly be on many people’s minds this time next year,” said Robert Alexander, political science professor at BGSU and one of the poll’s organizers.
Presidential Approval and Midterm Trends
The poll highlights a decline in President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Ohio voters, consistent with the common trend of the president’s party losing ground during midterms.
“That might explain a little bit of what we’re seeing here,” Alexander noted regarding voter sentiment.
Economic Concerns Among Voters
Ohio voters express particular dissatisfaction with the economy. A year ago, the main worry was inflation hitting everyday goods.
“A year ago, this was the big question: Who’s going to bring down the price of eggs?” Alexander said.
Summary
The poll suggests Ohio’s political balance remains delicate, with key races too close to call and voters expressing notable economic concerns amidst shifting approval ratings.