Democratic former senator Sherrod Brown, who’s challenging Republican Sen. Jon Husted this November, said Wednesday he hopes to debate, too. A Husted spokesperson issued a noncommittal statement, saying she’d be “shocked” if Brown debates Husted this time after failing to debate Moreno in 2024. ODP’s deep cutICYMI, Andrew also attended the Ohio Democratic Party’s annual state party dinner on Saturday. Perhaps the least-known speaker was Stacie Baker , a Reynoldsburg city council member who’s challenging Republican state Sen. Michele Reynolds this November. GOP lawmaker DJ Swearingen drops out of Ohio House race: State Rep. DJ Swearingen, of Huron County, is dropping his reelection campaign days ahead of a candidate deadline.