Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown is facing a significant loss of support from a major police union in his state for the first time in over a decade, according to a recent report by The New York Post. Brown lost the backing of the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) following a tweet he made about a contentious shooting incident involving a 16-year-old girl, Ma’Khia Bryant, who was shot by police in Columbus in 2021.
In his tweet, Brown strongly criticized the event, connecting it to broader issues of police violence that were highlighted during the Derek Chauvin trial. The comments following his tweet appeared to have greatly impacted the decision of the FOP to withdraw its support for Brown, according to the report. Mike Weinman, a spokesman for the Ohio FOP, said many members were disappointed by Brown’s immediate response to the incident.
It came down to a tweet,” Weinman told The New York Post. There was a shooting here, and Sherrod, instead of taking time to listen and talk to us and understand the situation, did what all these people do now and got on his phone. Brown made a comment. It’s a shame.
The Post noted that Brown’s endorsement fell short by just four votes during a floor vote. The outlet also reported that Brown’s Republican opponent, Bernie Moreno, also failed to secure the FOP endorsement, largely due to procedural reasons and his lack of political experience, not his political stances.
This withdrawal of support from the FOP is crucial for Brown, who stands as the lone prominent Democrat in a state that has become increasingly red in recent years, as reported by The Post. While the senator still holds a lead over Moreno, the change in backing from organizations such as the FOP could significantly impact the outcome of his re-election campaign.
Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is locked in a surprisingly tight race for a U.S. Senate seat against former Major League Baseball star and Republican candidate Steve Garvey. California Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler to the U.S. Senate seat until November, following the death of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein in September of last year. The winner of a special election in November will fill the remaining two months of Feinstein’s term, while voters will also be asked to select the person to serve as the office’s successor for the next six years in a separate ballot item.
The California U.S. Senate race has already become one of the most expensive in the state’s history. A recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) showed Schiff leading Garvey 62% to 37%, while the more accurate Berkeley IGS is expected to be released soon, providing a clearer picture of where things stand between the two candidates.
Schiff and Garvey have been fundraising since ABC News first reported on the race in June. According to Federal Election Commission filings, Schiff has raised close to $35 million in campaign contributions, while Garvey has raised about $5.5 million.
