Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), regarded as one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the upcoming 2024 elections, is confronting a significant “October Surprise” as new video footage surfaces showing a Democratic staffer associated with Brown and Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) delivering an explicit rant about Ohioans and border security.
In the footage, Kevin Oyakawa, a Democratic operative for Brown and Sykes, unleashed a profanity-laden tirade while conversing with a volunteer earlier this month. Oyakawa expressed his strong support for an open border policy, declaring, “Like me, I’m all for just like, open the f-ing border. I don’t give a sh*t who the f*** comes in here. We don’t need border patrol,” he said in a video obtained by Ohio.news.
Oyakawa went on to assert that immigration is a “losing issue” for Democrats in Ohio, attributing this challenge not to the policies themselves but to what he called “people’s pure racism.” This accusation appears aimed at Ohio voters who support stricter border measures, a sentiment that has largely shaped the conversation around immigration in the state. Oyakawa is the Regional Organizing Director for the Ohio Democratic Party.
The release of the video comes at a crucial moment for Brown, who is currently seeking re-election in a highly competitive Senate race. With Republicans prioritizing immigration and border security as key issues, this footage could significantly harm Brown’s campaign, potentially alienating moderate and swing voters who oppose open borders. Brown, who has served as Ohio’s senator since 2007, is striving to maintain his seat in a state that has become more conservative in recent years.
Republicans have become increasingly optimistic about their chances of victory, particularly in the Senate. Wins in West Virginia and Montana, now nearly certain, would be sufficient to shift control of the upper chamber to the GOP. Meanwhile, tightening races in Ohio and Pennsylvania have put incumbent Democrats Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bob Casey (D-PA) in a challenging position. Republican Bernie Moreno has completely closed the gap on Brown’s once solid lead.
The latest Morning Consult poll shows Moreno with 47% support among likely voters, narrowly leading Brown, who is at 46%. This marks a significant shift from earlier polls, which had Brown in the lead. Both internal and public polling indicates that Brown’s appeal may be waning, especially with Trump at the top of the Republican ticket.
The Ohio Senate race has shattered records, becoming the most expensive congressional race this cycle, with ad spending and reservations exceeding $483 million since the beginning of 2023, according to AdImpact. Ohio, once a critical swing state, has increasingly leaned Republican in recent years. This trend is reflected in its presidential voting patterns: after backing Barack Obama in 2012, Ohio decisively supported Trump in both 2016 and 2020.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.