The U.S. Senate is up for grabs. Can this Ohio Democrat win back working class votes?

Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown attends a rally with the Communications Workers of America Local 4370 on Oct. 26, 2024. After losing his Senate seat two years ago, Brown is now running for the Senate again, seeking to defeat incumbent Republican Sen. Jon Husted. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images hide caption

COLUMBUS, PAINESVILLE and AKRON, Ohio — It was a raucous homecoming for Sherrod Brown.

AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" blared from ballroom speakers. Union stalwarts representing steelworkers, utility workers, construction workers and others greeted the 73-year-old Democrat with resounding cheers and endless handshakes.

This was the biennial gathering of the Ohio AFL-CIO, a crowd Brown has kept at the forefront of his agenda throughout his 50 years in public office, including 32 years in the U.S. Congress.

And these are the people Brown is counting on to send him back to Washington after suffering defeat at the polls two years ago.

"I want you to talk to people, because people will listen to you," he implored. "I want you to share information — how I spent my whole career fighting for workers."

If you're a pipefitter, he told the room, other pipefitters will listen to you, as will your friends at church and school and in your neighborhood.

"Tell them how important this election is, and how important it is that they get out and vote," he said.