Survey Shows Tight Races for Next Ohio Senator and Governor

An AARP survey of likely Ohio voters finds that voters age 50 and older are poised to play a decisive role in the 2026 election. More than 8 in 10 voters 50-plus (81%) say they are extremely motivated to vote, compared with 74% of likely voters overall. 

The survey shows competitive and divergent dynamics across major contests. In the governor’s race, among voters age 50-plus, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy leads Democrat Amy Acton, 51% to 41%, with 8% undecided. Similarly, the U.S. Senate race tilts in the same direction, with 51% of voters 50-plus supporting Republican Jon Husted compared with 43% for Democrat Sherrod Brown, a margin of 8 points. Together, these results show voters 50-plus consistently favoring Republican candidates across major contests. 

This pattern extends to federal preferences. On the generic congressional ballot, voters 50-plus favor the Republican candidate by a double-digit margin, 53% to 42%, indicating a clear GOP advantage among older voters in congressional contests. 

Economic concerns dominate the priorities of voters 50-plus. “Rising prices and affordability” ranks as the top issue among both voters and voters 50-plus, while Social Security and Medicare rank as the second most important issue when combining first- and second-choice priorities. Concerns about financial stability are widespread: many voters report anxiety about their personal financial situation and their ability to retire securely. 

Health care and retirement issues remain central to electoral decision-making. Among voters 50-plus, 84% say the cost of health care is important in deciding their vote, closely followed by 83% who say the same about Social Security. A majority of voters 50-plus (55%) say Social Security is or will be a major source of their income, underscoring the importance of protecting the program. 

Caregiving is also a defining experience for many older voters. Roughly half (51%) of voters 50-plus identify as caregivers, highlighting the personal impact of health care and long-term care issues on this population. 

Support is strong for policy solutions that address these concerns. A large majority of voters 50-plus say they are more likely to support candidates who will protect Social Security benefits, prevent cuts, and expand Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices. 

Methodology

This survey was conducted on behalf of AARP by Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research among likely 2026 voters in Ohio. Interviews were conducted June 14 to 16, 2026, among a total sample of 800 registered voters, including 496 voters age 50 and older. The data were weighted to reflect the Ohio midterm voting population. 

For more information, contact Kate Bridges at kbridges@aarp.org. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at media@aarp.org.