Ohio Senate Race Draws $1.3 Million From Rival Israel Lobbying Groups

Republican Senator Jon Husted and former Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown are competing for a US Senate seat in Ohio, a race that has become a financial battleground for two major pro-Israel lobbying organizations. Federal Election Commission filings show that AIPAC, the traditionalist lobby, has directed more than $544,000 in individual contributions to Husted’s campaign this cycle. J Street, the liberal advocacy group, has funneled over $800,000 to Brown, making the Ohio contest a primary arena for their ideological differences.

The race is technically a special election to complete a term vacated by Vice President JD Vance, but voters often view Brown as the incumbent after his three prior terms. Husted was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine in 2025 to fill the seat. While both candidates have supported US-Israel relations, their funding sources reflect a split between AIPAC and J Street. Husted’s campaign received a direct $5,000 contribution from the AIPAC PAC in April, along with another $5,000 forwarded through the lobby in February.

Deryn Sousa, a spokesperson for AIPAC, stated that Husted is endorsed because of his support for the US-Israel relationship. During his time in office, Husted voted against measures to block arms sales to Israel and joined a Senate task force on antisemitism. In April, he voted against resolutions proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders that sought to restrict the sale of 1,000-pound bombs and bulldozers to Israel.

Sherrod Brown has also maintained a record of support for Israel and Jewish Americans. In 2018, he sponsored legislation to authorize military assistance for Israel through fiscal year 2028. Jordan Steinberg, a spokesperson for J Street, described Brown as a long-time champion of the group’s values. Steinberg noted that Brown is among the top three recipients of bundled dollars for J Street, with most funds coming through JStreetPAC from individual donors.

In September, J Street announced it would invest $3 million to defeat Republican candidates backed by AIPAC. Steinberg said the organization is deeply invested in Brown’s victory in November. This financial commitment underscores the high stakes of the Ohio race for both lobbying groups, who view the outcome as a test of their influence in the national political arena.

Beyond lobbying money, the candidates have traded accusations over ties to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Brown’s campaign ran ads criticizing Husted for accepting more than $116,000 from Les Wexner, an Epstein client. Tom Evans, a Husted campaign spokesperson, countered that the Wexners have donated to candidates on both sides, including Brown. Evans highlighted that Husted donated $34,000 to an anti-human trafficking charity and voted to release Epstein files, though he supported tabling an amendment for public disclosure in September 2025.

The Husted campaign also accused Brown of taking more than $150,000 from a dozen people listed in the Epstein files, including Larry Summers and Eric Schmidt. Evans called Brown’s ads hypocritical, noting that Brown never took money directly from Wexner. The Brown campaign did not respond to requests for comment on these accusations. The disputes over funding and personal associations have intensified the rivalry between the two candidates.