Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown announced a bid to once again represent Ohio in the Senate on Monday, nearly a year after his reelection effort in 2024 fell short.

Democratic leaders are lauding Ohio's Sherrod Brown now that he's launched his 2026 campaign to return to the U.S. Senate.

The announcement from Brown, a former three-term senator, bolsters Democrats’ long-shot hopes of flipping back the Senate in the 2026 elections. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber, with Democrats’ strongest opportunities appearing to be in Maine and North Carolina.