Shontel Brown

Ohio Democrats head into this year's elections with what analysts call their best shot in years to break the GOP's grip on statewide offices, though Republicans retain a clear structural advantage. Separately, a new state law requires mailed absentee ballots to reach county election offices by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day with no grace period, prompting Secretary of State Frank LaRose to urge voters to use drop boxes or deliver ballots in person. The Ohio Auditor's office also took its web systems offline after a cyberattack possibly involving foreign actors, though officials say no financial data appears compromised. LaRose separately sought a federal probe into a voter-registration group's activity in Cuyahoga County.

U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) has introduced the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The bill would create a $2 billion competitive grant program helping school districts cap kindergarten through third-grade class sizes at 18 students in low-income public elementary schools. Funds could go toward hiring teachers, expanding facilities, or professional development. Brown cites research linking smaller classes to better student outcomes amid ongoing teacher shortages and budget constraints. The bill has additional Senate Democratic cosponsors and backing from major education organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association.

President Donald Trump held a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, urging supporters to back Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jon Husted against Democrat Sherrod Brown and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy against Democrat Amy Acton ahead of the November midterms. Speaking at the Covelli Centre, Trump framed the races as a choice to "Put Ohio First" and asked attendees to treat the contests as if he were personally on the ballot. He also announced federal assistance for SOBE Thermal Energy Systems and disclosed that Cleveland will host a new 46,000-square-foot U.S. Navy submarine component repair facility, crediting Husted with securing the project. Jon Gruden introduced Trump, with boxer Jake Paul also appearing.

A new co/efficient poll of 925 likely Ohio voters, taken Oct. 5-6, found both races within the margin of error: Ramaswamy led Acton 45%-43% in the governor's race, while Husted led Brown 44%-43% in the Senate contest, a special election to fill the seat J.D. Vance vacated. Analysts continue to rate both races as toss-ups.

Ohio's gubernatorial candidates are staking out sharply different positions on the state income tax ahead of the fall election. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy wants to abolish it entirely, Democrat Amy Acton favors targeted tax credits for parents and lower-income residents, and Libertarian Don Kissick says he'd consider cuts but doesn't see it as urgent. Fundraising reports show Acton outraised Ramaswamy in September, though Ramaswamy's personal loans to his own campaign have reached over $36 million.

The race is drawing national attention as President Trump returns to the Mahoning Valley and Vice President JD Vance rallied in Lima, both aiming to energize Republican turnout for Ramaswamy and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted. Democrats, including Senate nominee Sherrod Brown, are betting that affordability concerns can erode Trump's hold on working-class voters. Down-ballot, Rep. Shontel Brown enters her reelection with a large financial advantage, while Rep. Mike Carey's seat remains a Democratic target despite a tough fundraising gap and Trump-friendly district lines.

Cleveland is advancing a proposal to apply for up to $1.031 million in federal funding to begin replacing mobile radios installed in police cars, fire trucks and ambulances. The U.S. Department of Justice's fiscal year 2026 project list names Cleveland as invited to apply for the money for "Cleveland Public Safety Radios," a request made by U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown. The city has 778 mobile radios; the funding would replace 151 of them, about 19% of the fleet, with no local match required. Public Safety Director Dornat "Wayne" Drummond told City Council's Safety Committee that replacing the remaining 627 radios would need substantial additional funding, though no estimate was given.

This is separate from a 2024 project, approved via Ordinance 640-2024, that funded $13 million to replace 1,840 aging handheld radios carried by police, firefighters, paramedics and Animal Care and Control staff. The new measure, Ordinance 907-2026, cleared the Safety Committee and now moves to the Finance, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.