Trump heads to Ohio as crucial Senate race enters final stretch

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to Ohio on Saturday to campaign for Sen. Jon Husted, who is facing a competitive challenge from former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

The stop in Vandalia, located just north of Dayton, follows visits to Oklahoma on Thursday and Alabama on Friday. The contest in Ohio is regarded as critical in deciding control of the Senate.

Trump previously pledged to campaign in 35 of the most competitive battleground races during the final push ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Trump speaks to reporters after stepping off Air Force One on September 27, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland (Getty)

Brown is aiming for a political return two years after losing his Senate seat to Republican Bernie Moreno. Husted, a veteran of Ohio Republican politics, served as a state lawmaker, House speaker, secretary of state and lieutenant governor before being selected to fill the Senate seat vacated by JD Vance when he became vice president.

Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou recently told The Associated Press that he hoped Trump would visit his state, where he won by 11 percentage points in 2024.

“We definitely want him here,” Triantafilou said. “He’s a turnout driver for us.”