Former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), locked in a competitive bid to reclaim his Senate seat, has said he would oppose any new effort to impeach President Trump if Democrats regain control of Congress in next month's elections. Brown, who twice voted to convict Trump during his previous Senate tenure, told The Columbus Dispatch that another impeachment push would be futile and unwarranted.
“I can't speak for everybody else, but I would not support an impeachment of Trump,” Brown said. “There's simply no reason for that, no matter what happens in the midterms.” His comments come as Republicans, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), warn that a Democratic majority would move quickly to impeach the president a third time.
A High-Stakes Ohio Contest
Brown is running against Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) in a state that Trump carried by more than 11 points in 2024, making the race one of the toughest for Democrats this cycle. Husted has campaigned alongside Trump, who appeared at a rally in Youngstown on Monday, where he praised the former Ohio governor as “a great athlete,” referencing his college football days at Division III Dayton.
Brown’s stance on impeachment may be aimed at appealing to moderate and independent voters in a deeply Republican state, but it puts him at odds with some in his party. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), who would likely become Speaker if Democrats take the House, has not ruled out impeachment. “No, we haven't ruled anything in and we haven't ruled anything out in terms of impeachment,” Jeffries said on ABC’s “This Week” in September.
History of Impeachment
House Democrats impeached Trump twice during his first term—first in 2019 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over his dealings with Ukraine, and again in January 2021 for inciting insurrection after the Capitol riot. Trump was acquitted both times in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required for conviction.
Several House Democrats have already filed articles of impeachment in the current Congress, and Speaker Johnson has predicted that a Democratic majority would act within the first days of the new session. “It's guaranteed, probably on the first day—first or second day,” Johnson told conservative commentator Scott Jennings. “Remember, they've already filed articles of impeachment in this Congress. And they're raring to go.”
Brown’s refusal to back such a move marks a notable departure from the party’s progressive wing, which has been vocal in its desire to hold Trump accountable. But Brown, who lost his seat in 2024 to Bernie Moreno, is clearly focused on winning back Ohio voters, many of whom supported Trump twice.
The former senator’s position could become a talking point in the final weeks of the campaign, with Husted’s team likely to use it to paint Brown as out of step with national Democrats. Meanwhile, Brown’s camp may argue that his independence is exactly what Ohio needs in Washington.
As the midterms approach, the question of impeachment remains a live issue, with both parties using it to galvanize their bases. Brown’s stance, however, suggests that at least one Democrat is willing to break ranks to secure a seat in a tough political climate.
