Why It Matters

Stand Up for Ohio has reportedly spent approximately $1.2 million supporting Democrats and opposing Republicans across Ohio's U.S. Senate race and five congressional districts during the 2026 election cycle. More than half of its reported spending has gone toward supporting Democrat Sherrod Brown and opposing incumbent Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), making the Senate contest its largest focus. Ohio is one of the most closely watched races in this year's midterm cycle. ​

The group's website describes statewide electoral programs focused on Black, young, and working-class voters in Ohio's urban centers. Its reported independent expenditures have focused on canvassing, voter guides, leaflets, and other voter-contact activities that benefit Democratic candidates.

What It Spent

Stand Up for Ohio's largest reported spending concentration is the U.S. Senate race, where it spent approximately $335,000 supporting Sherrod Brown and $318,000 opposing Republican incumbent Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH). Combined, the approximately $653,000 attributed to the contest accounts for roughly 54% of its reported $1.2 million in independent expenditures.

The committee's House spending has also supported Democratic candidates and opposed Republican candidates in several districts.

In Ohio's 7th Congressional District, Stand Up for Ohio reportedly spent about $140,000 supporting Democrat Brian Poindexter and $66,000 opposing Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), for about $206,000 total.

In Ohio's 10th Congressional District, the figures identify about $52,000 in expenditures for Democrat Kristina Knickerbocker and $34,000 for incumbent Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH). The spending appears to follow the same support-Democrat, oppose-Republican pattern, although the precise candidate-level totals require reconciliation.

In Ohio's 15th Congressional District, the organization reportedly spent about $84,000 supporting Democrat Don Leonard and $45,000 opposing Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), for a total of about $129,000.

In Ohio's 1st Congressional District, the supplied figures identify approximately $44,000 associated with incumbent Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) and $44,000 associated with Republican Greg Conroy. The candidate-level support and opposition classifications require confirmation.

In Ohio's 13th Congressional District, the organization reportedly spent about $35,000 supporting incumbent Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH). The exact amount and expenditure classification require confirmation.

Who Funds It

The FEC identifies Stand Up for Ohio as an independent-expenditure filer rather than a registered political committee. Its committee overview does not provide the standard contribution schedules or donor disclosures associated with registered PACs. The supplied figures list approximately $104,957 in receipts, but the available FEC committee summary does not independently confirm that amount or identify the organization's funding sources.

The Ohio Organizing Campaign describes itself as a statewide organizing effort that focuses on voter engagement and electoral participation among Black voters, young voters, and working-class communities.

The Ad Buy

Stand Up for Ohio's reported expenditures have primarily financed canvassing, voter guides, leaflets, staffing, and other direct voter-contact operations rather than conventional television advertising. According to the supplied transaction records, Field Forward Ohio was the payee for the organization's largest expenditures across the Senate and House races.

On Oct. 9, Stand Up for Ohio reportedly disclosed two $317,000 canvassing expenditures, one supporting Brown and the other opposing Husted. The matching amounts require review to determine whether the reports reflect separate costs or a shared expenditure allocated between candidates. On the same date, the organization reportedly disclosed two $66,000 canvassing expenditures in Ohio's 7th Congressional District, one supporting Poindexter and the other opposing Miller.

In August, the organization reported approximately $74,000 in expenditures supporting Poindexter between Aug. 21 and Aug. 28 for canvassing, leaflets and a voter guide. It also reported approximately $39,000 supporting Leonard on Aug. 21 and Aug. 22 for canvassing and campaign literature. Two Oct. 13 expenditure notices listed $184.63 each for printed voter guides, one supporting Brown and the other opposing Husted.

Other Spenders in the Same Races

The Ohio Senate race has attracted substantial spending from national political committees. According to the supplied Oct. 20 figures, SLF PAC has spent approximately $69.7 million in the contest, including $68 million opposing Brown and $1.7 million supporting Husted.

Defend American Jobs has spent approximately $46.7 million, including $33.8 million supporting Husted and $12.9 million opposing Brown. WinSenate has spent about $44.9 million, nearly all of it opposing Husted.

Stand Up for Ohio's reported spending in the same race totals approximately $653,000, including $335,000 supporting Brown and $318,000 opposing Husted.

In Ohio's 7th Congressional District, House Majority PAC has reportedly spent $3.4 million opposing Miller, Congressional Leadership Fund has spent $3.4 million opposing Poindexter, and Your Community PAC has spent $2 million opposing Miller. Stand Up for Ohio reported approximately $206,000 in that district, including $140,000 supporting Poindexter and $66,000 opposing Miller.

You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.

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