Ohio Rally Draws 3,000 as Senate Race Tightens Before Midterms

More than 3,000 people packed the Shoemaker Center at Ohio University's satellite campus in Chillicothe on Wednesday night, with hundreds more watching from screens outside the venue, to hear President Donald Trump campaign for Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections.

The event marked Trump's third rally in Ohio in recent weeks. The visit was organized to bolster Sen. Jon Husted's campaign against Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown for the U.S. Senate seat. The Cook Political Report currently rates the contest as a toss-up, and its outcome could determine which party controls the Senate. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Ohio Auditor Keith Faber, Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor, and Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney were also present in the area for related campaign activities.

During the address, Trump discussed economic figures for Ohio, including the construction of a new Bayer facility in New Albany, and said he would consider moving the U.S. Space Academy to the state if Husted wins. He also spoke about immigration policy and referenced gas prices in Chillicothe, which stood at approximately $4.40 per gallon on Wednesday despite the state legislature suspending the gas tax. The rally was interrupted three times by hecklers, one of whom was escorted out by police after shouting about Jeffrey Epstein.

Husted campaigned on a record of 50 years in Washington, asking the crowd to name a single accomplishment by Brown. Sen. Bernie Moreno also addressed the crowd, discussing the Pixelle paper mill, which shut down last year, and the Chillicothe VA. Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy appeared at the event and criticized Amy Acton's tenure as director of the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically citing school closures and subsequent learning loss.

Feeney held a press conference near the Ross County Courthouse prior to the rally. Feeney focused on the closure of the Pixelle plant, which employed roughly 800 workers, and noted that less than one-tenth of those who lost their jobs were rehired by incoming companies. Feeney stated that Brown worked across party lines to prevent the closure of the Chillicothe Veterans Administration building while in office.

Voting is currently underway. The Ohio Secretary of State's office reports that more than 6,000 people have cast ballots in person during early voting, with another 2,000 mail-in ballots returned. In the county, 65% of voters supported JD Vance in the last midterm election, and the last Democratic presidential candidate to carry the county was Bill Clinton in 1996.