Fox News is taking heat after a new survey showed former Sen. Sherrod Brown holding a surprisingly large lead over Sen. Jon Husted in Ohio, a state President Donald Trump carried comfortably in each of his three White House runs.
Trump beat Hillary Clinton in Ohio by more than eight points in 2016, defeated Joe Biden in the state by a similar margin in 2020 despite losing nationally, and expanded his advantage to more than 11 points over Kamala Harris in 2024.
Husted, who was appointed to the Senate in 2025 after Vice President JD Vance vacated the seat, is seeking to complete the remainder of Vance’s term in a November special election. Brown, who represented Ohio in the Senate from 2007 until losing to Sen. Bernie Moreno in 2024, is attempting a political comeback.
But a new Fox poll is raising eyebrows.
The survey, conducted May 28 through June 1 among registered Ohio voters, found Brown leading Husted 53% to 45%, with 2% undecided. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points and sampled voters by live phone interviews and online responses from a statewide voter file.
According to the poll, Trump’s standing in Ohio “has deteriorated,” creating headwinds for Republicans.
The numbers represent an eight-point lead for Brown and a dramatic shift from Trump’s 2024 performance in the Buckeye State.
Brown led among both men and women and was tied with Husted among white voters at 49%. He held a commanding advantage among non-white voters, independents, and moderates.
Among independent voters, Brown led 53% to 35%, with 11% unsure and 1% selecting another candidate. Moderates favored Brown by a 60% to 37% margin.
Brown also showed stronger party unity. Ninety-eight percent of Democrats backed him, while 13% of Republicans crossed over to support the Democrat. Among non-MAGA Republicans, Brown captured 31%.
The poll found 14% of Trump voters from 2024 backing Brown, while 97% of Harris voters supported the Democrat.
Husted’s strongest support came from voters over 65, rural residents, Protestants, and white evangelical voters, where he led Brown 65% to 33%.
Democrats also appeared more energized. Eighty-two percent of Democrats said they were “extremely or very motivated” to vote in November, compared to 76% of Republicans.
Brown posted a 53% favorable rating and a 44% unfavorable rating. Husted was underwater at 41% favorable and 50% unfavorable.
Trump’s own numbers in Ohio closely mirrored Husted’s. The president was viewed favorably by 42% of voters and unfavorably by 57%.
The survey also found that more voters worried Husted was “too close to Donald Trump” than believed Brown’s “positions on the issues are too liberal.”
Inflation and high prices topped the list of voter concerns at 43%, well ahead of healthcare at 12%, immigration and border security at 11%, political divisions at 9%, jobs at 8%, Iran at 7%, and both abortion and crime at 4%.
The findings immediately sparked skepticism online, with critics questioning whether the numbers accurately reflected the state’s political landscape.
“If you think Ohio is shifting 12 points to the left then i have a bridge to sell you,” one X user wrote.
Another user blasted the survey, writing, “Fox is an atrocious state level pollster and this poll is no exception.”
A third reacted with disbelief, posting, “Close governors race but Senate race by likely Dem margins? Tf is this poll lmao.”
The results have added to the debate over whether Republicans are facing real warning signs heading into the midterms or whether the Fox News survey is simply an outlier in a state that has trended increasingly red in recent years.
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