Sherrod Brown, a Democratic Senate candidate in Ohio, faces criticism from Republicans over his position on immigration enforcement. In an interview last month, Brown stated he supports "closing the border to people so they just can't cross the border at will" and backs deporting people convicted of crimes. The remarks have drawn scrutiny from GOP figures who argue his voting record contradicts these claims.
Republicans contend that Brown's legislative history demonstrates consistent opposition to border security measures. According to their account, Brown voted at least 10 times to protect federal funding for sanctuary cities from 2001 through 2024, spanning his tenure in the House and three terms in the Senate. The party also notes that Brown has repeatedly opposed construction of a southern border wall, previously describing the concept as "stupid," "wrong," and "ludicrous."
Brown served nearly two decades in the Senate before losing his seat in 2024 to Republican Bernie Moreno. He is now seeking the Senate seat held by Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill Vice President JD Vance's position at the start of the second Trump administration.
The Ohio Senate race is expected to be highly competitive. Husted's campaign manager Drew Thompson issued a statement characterizing Brown's record as detrimental to the state. "After shocking Ohioans in 2024 by claiming he only hears about illegal immigration from the far Right, Sherrod Brown is now desperate to return to Washington and continue the same Biden-era open border policies he supported for 32 years," Thompson said. Husted is running unopposed in the Republican primary but has already launched a $1 million ad campaign for the general election.
Immigration remains a central issue in the race. Nick Puglia, regional press secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, stated that Brown's recent comments would not resonate with Ohio voters, claiming they recognize his longstanding alignment with positions favoring more open border policies.
Ohio figures among three Senate races classified as toss-ups by The Cook Political Report, alongside contests in Maine and Michigan, indicating the competitive landscape shaping the chamber's composition.
