Thune: Ohio is the 'ground zero' for Senate control

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., declared the Ohio Senate race the central battleground for maintaining Republican control of the chamber. He made the statement during a campaign event in Lima on Tuesday night alongside his party’s nominee, Sen. Jon Husted. Thune described the contest as a 'knife fight' where the outcome will dictate the next two years of legislative power.

The leader argued that a Republican majority is necessary to limit the scope of any impeachment trial. He noted that Democrats have already signaled plans to investigate President Donald Trump and his Cabinet if they take the House. Thune said the difference between a short trial and a long one depends on the Senate's composition.

“The only difference between a 24-hour impeachment trial in the Senate and a 24-month impeachment trial is a Republican majority,” Thune said. He referenced comments from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Gregory Meeks, who have previously stated they would use subpoena power if their party gains control.

Thune also addressed the work of Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He credited Oz with identifying waste, fraud, and abuse within the agency. Thune insisted that Republicans must hold their majority to allow that work to continue without interruption from the opposition party.

Turning to the Democratic candidate, Thune criticized former Sen. Sherrod Brown. He called Brown a 'rubber stamp' for the previous Democratic leadership during his time in office. Brown served in the Senate from 2007 until 2025, when he lost his seat to Republican Bernie Moreno in the 2024 election.

“He proved that to us for 30 years when he was in the Senate, he was a rubber stamp for Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden,” Thune said. He urged the crowd to keep Husted in Washington, calling the election 'absolutely, absolutely critical.'

Thune highlighted Husted’s record as a tax cutter and border security advocate. He claimed no one has been released into the country illegally in 17 months. Thune described Husted as a principled and hardworking leader who has served in the state legislature and as lieutenant governor.

Husted told the crowd that the race remains tight. He compared the current moment to the fourth quarter of a football game. He said opponents are trying to intimidate voters and make them believe their participation does not matter.

“We got work to do because this is going to be a close race,” Husted said. He challenged Republican voters to stay engaged despite the pressure from the opposing campaign.

A recent Fox News survey of likely voters in Ohio shows Sherrod Brown holding a slight lead. The poll found that 52 percent of respondents would vote for Brown, while 47 percent would vote for Husted. Neither Thune’s office, Husted’s team, nor Brown’s campaign immediately responded to a request for further comment.