Ohio Sen. Jon Husted Secures Endorsements from Record 75 County Sheriffs

Sen. Jon Husted has secured endorsements from a record 75 of Ohio's 88 county sheriffs, the largest show of support from law enforcement in state history. The backing includes a clean sweep of independent sheriffs and support from across party lines.

"They’ve seen at the national level people like Sherrod Brown denying the border crisis, when millions of people poured across our border who were unvetted," Husted told Fox News Digital. "That included people who were bringing drugs and human trafficking."

Husted, a Republican running for re-election to the Senate in 2026 after ousting Brown in 2024, said Biden administration immigration and crime policies made law enforcement hesitant to back Brown, his Democratic opponent who served 18 years in the chamber.

Local sheriffs feel abandoned by previous federal policies, according to Husted. "They would tell me that they would arrest people who were in the country illegally, they would have them in their jails, they would call Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and ICE would just say 'let them go,'" he claimed.

Husted said pro-enforcement policies under President Trump have changed conditions for sheriffs. "These are the people on the front line," Husted said. "That’s what they experience. They know the difference between where Sherrod Brown is on those issues... and where I’ve been. Now they see the opposite. When they arrest somebody who has committed a crime, who’s in the country illegally, they just call ICE, ICE comes and gets them, and they do the process of deportation."

The list includes Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn, who endorsed Brown last cycle but now backs Husted. "Jon Husted has proven he will stand up for law enforcement," Wasylyshyn said in a press release. "In this race, he’s earned my support. I’ve seen his leadership, and I’m confident he will continue to support those of us working to keep our communities safe."

The sheriff from Brown's home county of Richland also supports Husted.

Husted framed crime as a concern for everyday Ohioans. "If you’re, you know, a working family of four, you make $80,000 a year, you don’t live in a gated community with officers and security," he said. "You live in neighborhoods where, in many cases, criminals try to come and steal cars, bring drugs and things like that. And they don’t want that. That’s why working families support law and order. They support the rule of law. They want people to follow the law, and they want law enforcement to enforce the law."

Husted's campaign noted his record of funding law enforcement. He led efforts to invest more than $274 million in body cameras, training and wellness programs. He also created a statewide law enforcement recruitment hub to address staffing shortages.

"Jon Husted has been an ally to law enforcement when others have turned their backs," said Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas Riggenbach. "He has always stood with those of us on the front lines, making sure we have the resources and support we need to do our jobs."

"I’ve been behind the police my whole life," Husted said. "They’re on the front lines of fighting crime, and they know I’ve always had their backs. I support them, and they support me—and together, we’ll keep Ohio safe."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Brown campaign for comment.

The Ohio Senate race is a key battleground. Democrats see it as a winnable pickup to erode the GOP’s 53-47 majority, while Republicans need to hold it to maintain their margin.