Sherrod Brown

Sherrod Brown was born on November 9, 1952, in Mansfield, Ohio. He was the youngest of the three children in his family. His father, Charles Gailey Brown, was a physician, and his mother Emily Campbell was a homemaker. Brown attended high school at Mansfield Senior High School, where he played varsity baseball, football, basketball, and track. He went on to Yale University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Russian studies in 1974.

Sherrod Brown was elected as a State Representative in Ohio at the age of 22, shortly after graduating from Yale University. Serving from 1975 to 1982, he was one of the youngest members in the Ohio House. During his tenure, Brown focused on a range of issues including environmental protection, education reform, and consumer rights. His early political career in the Ohio House helped build his foundation as a strong advocate for progressive policies and social justice.

Sherrod Brown was elected as Ohio's Secretary of State in 1982 and served two terms until 1990. During his tenure, Brown focused on improving voter registration and election procedures in Ohio, advocating for transparency and accessibility in the electoral process. His work in this role was acknowledged for modernizing and reforming how elections were conducted in the state, ensuring a fairer and more democratic system for Ohioans.

Sherrod Brown was elected as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 13th congressional district. He served in the House from January 3, 1993, to January 3, 2007. During his tenure, Brown was known for his progressive viewpoints and was actively involved in labor rights issues, health care, and education. He sat on various committees and was instrumental in pushing for reforms that would benefit middle-class Americans.

In 2003, Sherrod Brown took a stand by voting against the authorization for the use of military force in Iraq. Brown, then a U.S. Representative, expressed concerns about the justification and potential consequences of the war, aligning with other Democrats who opposed the invasion. His vote reflected his cautious approach to military intervention and his commitment to diplomacy and international cooperation as preferred methods for resolving conflicts.

Sherrod Brown was elected to the U.S. Senate from Ohio in the 2006 elections, defeating the incumbent Republican Senator Mike DeWine. Brown ran a campaign focusing on issues like fair trade, workers' rights, and affordable health care. His victory marked a significant win for the Democratic Party in a pivotal midterm election year. As a Senator, Sherrod Brown has been a vocal advocate for labor unions and an opponent of free trade agreements that he views as harmful to American workers.

Sherrod Brown was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in the 2012 elections, defeating his Republican challenger Josh Mandel. Brown's campaign emphasized his record on fighting for Ohio's working families, his support for the auto industry bailout, and his ongoing commitment to labor and health care issues. His victory was considered a testament to his strong support among labor unions and working-class voters in Ohio. This election further cemented his role as a leading progressive voice in the Senate.

Sherrod Brown won re-election for a third term to the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican candidate Jim Renacci. This election in 2018 was part of the Democratic 'blue wave' in the midterms, where Democrats gained numerous seats across the country. Brown's victory in Ohio, a state which had swung to Donald Trump in 2016, was notable for the way he successfully appealed to both progressive and working-class voters through his emphasis on economic populism and workers' rights.

In March 2019, Sherrod Brown announced that he would not be running for President in the 2020 election, after having considered a bid. His decision came after a 'Dignity of Work' tour in early primary states to gauge support. Brown cited his commitment to his work in the Senate and his focus on issues like workers' rights and fair trade as reasons to remain. His announcement disappointed some progressive and labor groups who saw him as a strong potential candidate for the presidency.

Sherrod Brown was present in the U.S. Capitol during the January 6th attack in 2021, when a mob incited by false claims of election fraud stormed the building in an attempt to overturn the certification of Joe Biden's presidential victory. After the incident, Brown was outspoken in condemning the violence and holding accountable those responsible. He called for a thorough investigation to address the security failures and to prevent future threats to the democratic process.