Jon Husted, 57, is a long-time Ohio Republican operative. Born in Michigan and adopted, he was raised in Ohio. He earned degrees from the University of Dayton. Husted served in the Ohio House (2001-2009, including as Speaker 2005-2009), Ohio Senate (2009-2011), Ohio Secretary of State (2011-2019), and Lieutenant Governor (2019-2025) before his January 2025 Senate appointment. He is a close ally of Governor Mike DeWine and received President Trump's endorsement for the Senate seat.
Jon Husted was born in the Detroit area in 1967 and placed for adoption immediately. Adopted and raised in Montpelier, Ohio as the oldest of three children with a machine operator father. He graduated from Montpelier High School in 1985 and earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Dayton, where he played on the football team alongside future NFL coach Jon Gruden. After college, he worked for Montgomery County Commissioner Don Lucas and as a business development professional before entering elected office. Husted is married to Tina as of 2005 and has three children. Husted served as Speaker of the Ohio House, demonstrating legislative leadership experience before moving to statewide offices.
Supports Trump administration approach to immigration and border enforcement
Pledged to 'secure our borders' with Trump
Critical of Affordable Care Act; voted against ACA subsidy extensions but later proposed freezing spending and extending subsidies for two years
December 2025 proposal freezes spending at current level rather than extending full subsidies. Democrats and Brown campaign criticize this as insufficient given rising costs.
Backed Medicaid cuts questioned by Democrats as harming hospital access
April 2026 DSCC report claimed Husted-backed Medicaid cuts put at least 9 Ohio hospitals at high risk of closure or service cuts
Supports Trump's approach; frames as pro-growth and pro-Ohio
Emphasizes bringing 'innovation' and 'prosperity to the heartland'
Husted has served in the Senate since January 21, 2025. He has missed 0 of 725 roll call votes from January 2025 to March 2026 (0.0%), better than Senate median of 2.8%. Recent legislative activity includes introducing bills on fentanyl on social media, voter identification, hazardous materials transport safety, and critical minerals.
| Bill | Title | Vote | Date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H.R. 6644 | 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act | Yea | 2026-03-12 | Voted for housing supply increase bill that passed 89-10 |
| PN730-46 | Ryan McCormack, Under Secretary of Transportation confirmation | Yea | 2026-02-26 | Confirmed transportation nominee 57-33 |
| H.R. 7147 | Consolidated appropriations for fiscal year 2026 | Yea | 2026-03-12 | Voted for FY2026 appropriations bill |
Husted is making life harder for working families through support for 'billionaires tax cuts' and health care policies that harm ordinary Ohioans
Brown contrasts Husted's voting record on taxes and health care with his own pro-worker, pro-Medicare/Social Security record
Husted-backed Medicaid cuts threaten Ohio hospitals and health care access
April 2026 report highlighted at least 9 Ohio hospitals at high risk due to Medicaid reductions