EXCLUSIVE: Grassroots Support for Jon Husted Continues

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Grassroots support for Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has continued to grow ahead of his special election, as Americans for Prosperity Action and its sister group, LIBRE Initiative Action, released new ads aimed at helping the senator win in November.

Two new ads from AFP Action focus on Husted “Putting Ohio First,” emphasizing the senator’s commitment to tax cuts, as well as Democrat opponent Sherrod Brown’s “48 Years” as a career politician who “put party politics first.” One ad states Brown was finally “fired” in 2024 when he lost to now Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno.

The LIBRE Action ad focuses on “American Dreams,” which references the desire among Latino residents to have “a good job, safe neighborhoods to raise kids, and the chance to get ahead.”

“Washington isn’t working. More spending, more bureaucracy, higher costs and a dream that keeps slipping away. Jon Husted is fighting to rein in spending, cut taxes, and get Washington out of the way to lower costs and build a strong economy so the American dream stays within reach for our families,” the LIBRE Action ad continues.

The Buckeye State’s approximately 235,000 Latino voters represent over 3% of the population and have been a decisive factor in recent statewide races. LIBRE Initiative Action, the largest center-right Latino political organization in the country, is backing Husted because the pursuit of the American dream still matters in 2026.

“For Latino families across Ohio, the American dream is not hard to define: a growing economy, safe communities, and the belief that hard work pays off,” LIBRE Action Ohio Advisor Lair Marin-Marcum told the Daily Signal.

“But years of Washington’s spending spree are making that dream harder to reach, driving up the cost of living,” she added. “Jon Husted is committed to getting Washington out of the way so Ohio families can build the future they’ve worked for. LIBRE Action is proud to stand with him and make sure Latino voters have a voice in this election.”

Americans for Prosperity Action endorsed Husted in March. Since then, the group has released ads highlighting affordability as a major factor during the midterms, drawing a contrast between Husted and Brown. With new ads from LIBRE Action and AFP Action, the combined Ohio investment from both groups for this cycle is now over $5 million.

Brown won the Democratic primary in May and is seeking a way back into his former role as U.S. senator from Ohio.

Donovan O’Neil, the senior advisor for AFP Action Ohio, told the Daily Signal why it’s important for ads to touch on Latino interests and aspirations for Ohio’s future.

“Ohio’s Latino community is a driving force in this election, and AFP Action is proud to stand alongside LIBRE Action in reaching these voters,” he said. “Families across the state are tired of Washington spending money it doesn’t have and driving up the cost of everything they need.

“Jon Husted has a real plan to rein in that spending and get our economy working for Ohio families again—that’s why we’re all in.”

The race has intensified in recent months and is regarded by The Cook Political Report as a “toss-up.”