Once a Swing State, Does Ohio Have Any Shades of Purple Left?
Last month, the Bowling Green State University Democracy and Public Policy Research Network published a poll surveying 800 registered Ohio voters.
Tight Race for the Senate Seat
The poll revealed a close contest between former Senator Sherrod Brown and current Senator Jon Husted in the race for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat. Both candidates are virtually tied within the survey’s 4.5% margin of error.
Governor’s Race Still Competitive
In the gubernatorial race, Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy holds a slight lead over former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton and former U.S. Representative Tim Ryan, who has not yet announced a campaign. All results remain statistically close.
Reflections on Voter Sentiment
“Ohio will certainly be on many people’s minds this time next year,” said Robert Alexander, professor of political science at BGSU and co-author of the poll.
He noted that the president’s party often loses ground during midterms, and the poll found President Donald Trump’s approval rating has declined among Ohio voters.
“That might explain a little bit of what we’re seeing here,” Alexander said.
Economic dissatisfaction is a key factor shaping voter opinions.
“A year ago, this was the big question: Who’s going to bring down the price of eggs?” he added.
About the Poll
- Sample size: 800 registered Ohio voters
- Margin of error: ±4.5%
- Conducted by: BGSU Democracy and Public Policy Research Network
Author’s summary: The latest BGSU poll shows Ohio’s political landscape narrowing once again, with voter frustration over the economy shaping the state’s tight races.