Democratic leaders are lauding Ohio's Sherrod Brown now that he's launched his 2026 campaign to return to the U.S. Senate.

Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown announced a bid to once again represent Ohio in the Senate on Monday, nearly a year after his reelection effort in 2024 fell short.

"Sherrod Brown is Democrats' best hope in this race. He is known statewide and his commitment to working families and their concerns has defined his political career. But we saw in his loss in 2024 that the Republican tide in Ohio was strong enough to swamp Brown's political skills and resume," Niven said.