By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Sherrod Brown believed Ohio voters were going to return him to the U.S. Senate last year. He did not realize what seems obvious to him now – his opponent was not Bernie Moreno, but was Donald Trump.
After losing the race, Brown said he had no intention of running again.
But then as he watched Trump’s inauguration, he noticed a troubling trend.
“We watched a bunch of billionaires get out of their limousines,” Brown said of the people the returning president chose to surround himself with. Then the next day, Trump pardoned the Jan. 6 rioters at the Capitol, and the convicted mastermind of the Silk Road website that allowed the trade of Bitcoin for illegal drugs and guns.
After that, it was the onslaught of nearly daily attacks on American institutions intended to serve the public.
He spoke of the “terrible nominees” approved for cabinet positions, then the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which is projected to cause 490,000 Ohioans to lose health insurance, and 11 rural hospitals to close across the state, he said.
Brown told a crowd gathered to see him at Grounds for Thought in Bowling Green on Friday that it was more than he and his Pulitzer Prize winning journalist wife, Connie Schultz, could stomach.
“Connie and I decided we couldn’t stay on the sidelines,” he said. “Awful, awful things are happening in this country. All of this is about a tax cut for rich people.”
The packed coffee shop voiced support, including the man wearing a “Make America America Again” hat.
This time, Brown will be running against Jon Husted, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine in 2024. Husted, he said, voted for “every single” unfit nominee backed by Trump, specifically naming Kennedy, Hegseth and Noem. He supported cuts to veterans benefits and giveaways to corporate interests, Brown said.
“He didn’t speak out,” when Trump’s tariffs led to zero American soybeans being sold to China, or when Trump gave a $20 billion bailout to Argentina, Brown said of Husted.
Many Americans – and Ohioans – are realizing that the changes made by MAGA aren’t in their best interests, Brown said. And that has created some new momentum for Democrats.
“All the enthusiasm is on our side,” Brown said, noting that on the day he announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, he received contributions from nearly 30,000 Ohioans.
“Our mission now is finding ways to keep the enthusiasm going,” Brown said, encouraging his audience to get involved. “You are part of saving this country, for your kids, for your grandkids.” Though he has seen greater involvement by young people, it’s not enough, Brown said.
After speaking about 15 minutes, Brown opened it up for questions.
One woman talked about the spike in costs for rent and child care. “We want to know what’s going to happen to us,” she said.
Brown said if elected, he would go after big business, like drug companies and oil companies.
“That’s what I’ve done my whole career,” he said. “Things cost too much for everybody.”
A former teacher talked about federal officials who are bending the law to Trump’s will. “I’ve taught this to children. These are our laws, doggone it,” she said.
“That’s why we fight back,” Brown responded.
Another person asked if Brown supports Medicare for all. No, he said, but he is for health care coverage for all. He was unapologetic about his stand, despite knowing that many in the Bowling Green crowd back the sweeping change to Medicare.
“I’m never going to lie. I don’t do slogans,” he said, favoring to focus on real solutions.
After taking questions, Brown then spent time meeting with people one-on-one. While there have been some signs that Trump’s power has limits – in recent elections and the GOP stand against Trump’s redistricting push in Indiana – Brown said that’s not what people really care about.
“People want to talk about prices,” he said.
Once the new year rolls around, Brown said he will be campaigning full time – meeting with Ohio residents who have been “betrayed” by Husted.
“I’m going to soybean farms and talk with the farmers,” he said.
And while some signs point toward rising enthusiasm for Democrat candidates, Brown cautioned it won’t be easy.
“It’s going to be a fight,” he said.
