The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) political action committee announced its endorsement on Friday of Ohio’s former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in his campaign to reclaim a Senate seat in the 2026 special election.
Brown lost his bid to serve for a fourth term by more than 3.5% in the 2024 general election to Republican Bernie Moreno. Brown received 2.54%t more of the Ohio vote than Democratic nominee Kamala Harris did in the presidential race, though it was not enough to win.
The current race is for the Senate seat vacated by JD Vance in January 2025, when Vance became U.S. vice president. Gov. Mike Dewine appointed Lt. Gov. John Husted to temporarily fill Vance’s Senate seat. Brown, a Democrat, faces Husted, a Republican, in a special election in 2026 to fill out the remainder of that Senate term (ending 2028).
HRC President Kelley Robinson praised Brown as “a champion for Ohioans.”
“From expanding access to healthcare to ensuring that everyone has equal opportunity to thrive, Brown’s tireless advocacy serves as a reminder that true public service leaves no one behind,” Robinson said in a press release announcing the endorsement.
Robinson criticized President Donald Trump’s administration and Congress for using LGBTQ+ lives “as a political wedge in that quest to divide and conquer the country.”
“This election is our chance to fight back and send a message: that freedom should belong to all of us,” Robinson said.
For his part, Brown said he was proud to have HRC’s support and that Ohioans “deserve a senator who fights to protect equal opportunities for all – not one who puts them even further out of reach.”
“I will always stand up for the rights of all Ohioans and ensure that they can live their lives free from discrimination,” Brown said in a statement.
HRC noted Brown’s involvement in pro-LGBTQ+ policies, including:
- Introduced a resolution to recognize June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
- Voted for the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act after years of support for marriage equality.
- Supported LGBTQ+ veterans by urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve data collection for LGBTQ+ veterans to ensure the proper address of health disparities and other inequities.
- Voted against the 1996 discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act and against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have prohibited same-sex marriage in every state.
‘Crucial congressional race’
LGBTQ+ Ohio leaders noted the importance of this race, as the 2026 mid-term elections have the potential to swing the balance of power in Washington D.C. away from the Republican-controlled Congress.
Dwayne Steward, executive director of Equality Ohio, said that the organization is excited to see a candidate like Brown in this race, particularly given the recent legislative attacks on transgender Americans.
“We need to fight now more than ever to ensure that Ohio sends someone to Congress that truly has our back,” Steward said.
Equality Ohio honored Brown, his Pulitzer Prize-winning wife Connie Schultz and their entire family with the organization’s 2025 Legacy Ally Award at its 20th anniversary fundraiser in October.
“At the event, Senator Brown’s daughter, Elizabeth Brown, declared the treatment of transgender communities in this moment to be immoral and she reaffirmed her family’s commitment to equality for all,” Steward said. “We hope that Senator Brown carries this same resolve into his campaign and potentially back into Congress.”
Arienne Childrey, vice-chair of the Ohio Democratic Party Pride Caucus, said that Brown provides a stark alternative to his opponent, and would do more for LGBTQ+ individuals “feeling the squeeze from rising costs worsened by policies that put profits over people.”
“While Republicans push divisive culture wars that tear us apart, [Brown] focuses on bringing people together and fighting for working families against the special interests that make everyday life harder and more expensive,” Childrey said.
‘Focus on the issues’
Brown was criticized by LGBTQ+ leaders during the 2024 election for a commercial he released responding to Republican opponent U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, Brown said it was a “total lie” that he voted in support of transgender girls and women in women’s sports.
Instead of describing the inaccuracies regarding transgender people in Moreno’s ad, Brown’s response suggested transgender people’s participation in sports should be left to individual sports leagues.
Dara Adkison – executive director of transgender advocacy group TransOhio – told The Buckeye Flame that these commercials had not been forgotten.
“In 2024 both Brown and Moreno ran disgusting anti trans ads. It is our hope that in 2026 both Brown and Husted can focus on issues affecting Ohioans that need attention, not transphobic bigotry,” Adkison said. “Trans people in Ohio would like to just be left alone to lead our lives.”
Ohio Democratic Party Pride Caucus Chair Kyle Herman similarly expressed hope that Brown would be able to focus on the issues.
“Queer Ohioans share the concerns of all Ohioans who are suffering from the affordability crisis caused by Republican policies that cater to corrupt elites at our expense,” Herman said. “We hope Sherrod will offer bold solutions to bring down the cost of living for major expenses like housing, healthcare, and energy.”🔥
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