Ohio poll: 85% want Social Security fixed; Husted rejects the plan 72% support

Ohio voters in both parties agree on one thing as they go to the polls today: they want Social Security fixed. In a poll for the nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation, 85% of likely Ohio voters said fixing the program is important. That includes 88% of Republicans, 81% of Democrats and 79% of independents ¹.

The two main candidates in Ohio's U.S. Senate race split on the fix those voters like best. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democrat, backs raising the cap on income that is taxed for Social Security. Sen. Jon Husted, the Republican incumbent, opposes that idea and has not said what he would do instead, the Ohio Capital Journal reported ¹.

What the poll found

The survey was done for the Peterson Foundation by two firms, the Democratic Global Strategy Group and the Republican North Star Opinion Research. They polled 2,500 likely voters, 500 in each of five states, including Ohio, from Aug. 20 to Aug. 27. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage points in each state ⁴.

Most Ohioans did not know what is coming. Over half, 53%, were unaware of the automatic benefit cuts set for 2032 ¹. Once they were told about them, 75% said they would be more likely to back a Senate candidate who has a plan to stop the cuts ¹. And 88% said lawmakers should talk about the problem more ⁴.

From Channel GOPSherrod Brown tallies Husted's votes on health insuranceSherrod Brown · 145 plays · captioned, with the source named

On specific ideas, 72% of Ohio voters supported raising the income cap on Social Security taxes. Another 68% supported capping benefits for higher-income retirees ¹. Today, wages above a set limit are not taxed for Social Security, so very high earners stop paying in partway through the year. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a budget watchdog, raising the cap alone would close about 65% of the shortfall ¹.

The cut on the calendar

Social Security retirement checks are paid from the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund. According to an analysis of this year's Social Security Trustees Report by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, that fund is projected to run out in 2032. After that, only 78% of the benefits owed could be paid ⁵. Counted together, the retirement and disability funds can pay full benefits until 2034, then about 83% ⁵.

For Ohio retirees, the CRFB puts the average cut at $487 a month ¹. Its national figure, built on an automatic 24% cut, averaged $500 a month ⁶.

Husted: protect it, but not that way

Husted has called Social Security a sacred commitment ¹. In a June interview on the "Guy Benson Show," he said he opposed a plan from Ohio's other senator, Republican Bernie Moreno, and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to raise the tax cap ¹.

This rifle approach with a giant tax increase is not the way I'd go about it.

He also said, in the same interview, that the program needs help across party lines ¹. But the interview moved on without Husted saying what he would do to fix Social Security, and his office did not answer the Capital Journal's questions for its Oct. 30 story ¹.

We need to protect it. We need to make it stronger. I also agree that it will require a bipartisan solution.

On the trail, Husted has pointed instead to the Republican tax law. He said he was proud to support the $6,000 tax deduction in the working family tax cut act for families receiving Social Security ³. That deduction lowers some seniors' income taxes. It does nothing to stop the 2032 cut.

Brown: make the top earners pay in

Brown said in October that he would raise the income level at which Social Security taxes are paid, calling for billionaires to pay their fair share ¹. In an AARP voter guide, he said he would always oppose Wall Street's efforts to privatize Social Security ³.

we need to make sure that billionaires are paying their fair share by raising the tax cap

Brown touted himself as the lead sponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act. That law ended the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, two rules that cut benefits for many teachers, police officers and other public workers with pensions ³. In his final pitch to voters this week, he said it restored benefits to 250,000 Ohioans ².

The Social Security Fairness Act, which 250,000 Ohioans had their Social Security restored that they had lost

Brown has also gone after Husted, saying in a statement that Husted "wants to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits that countless Ohio families rely on" ³. That is a campaign charge. Husted says he is "fully committed to protecting the benefits" seniors have earned ³.

Why it matters

That matters because the 2032 deadline is close, and the next Senate will hold six-year terms. If Congress does nothing, the cut happens on its own. Senators who say they want to protect Social Security but name no plan are, in practice, leaving that deadline in place.

Not every expert thinks the tax cap is the whole answer. Andrew Biggs of the conservative American Enterprise Institute warned that "Everyone is somehow hoping that someone else will pay the bill for Social Security reform" ⁴. Even so, the poll shows the tax-cap idea has support in both parties in Ohio.

The Record

1. Jun 4, 2026The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates an automatic 24% cut would average $500 a month nationally and $487 in Ohio ⁶
2. Jun 24, 2026An analysis of the 2026 Trustees Report says the retirement trust fund runs out in 2032, leaving 78% of benefits payable ⁵
3. Aug 20, 2026The Peterson Foundation survey of 500 likely voters in each of five states, including Ohio, goes into the field and runs through Aug. 27 ⁴
4. Oct 30, 2026The Ohio Capital Journal reports 85% of Ohio voters want Social Security fixed. Husted's office does not answer questions about his plan ¹
5. Nov 2, 2026Brown and Husted make final pitches, each pointing to a Social Security law ²

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<h2>Ohio poll: 85% want Social Security fixed; Husted rejects the plan 72% support</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Kitchen-Table Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/ohio-poll-85-want-social-security-fixed-husted-rejects-the-plan-72-support">The GOP Files</a> on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.</em></p> <p>Ohio voters in both parties agree on one thing as they go to the polls today: they want Social Security fixed. In a poll for the nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation, 85% of likely Ohio voters said fixing the program is important. That includes 88% of Republicans, 81% of Democrats and 79% of independents .</p> <p>The two main candidates in Ohio&#39;s U.S. Senate race split on the fix those voters like best. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown, the Democrat, backs raising the cap on income that is taxed for Social Security. Sen. Jon Husted, the Republican incumbent, opposes that idea and has not said what he would do instead, the Ohio Capital Journal reported .</p> <h2>What the poll found</h2> <p>The survey was done for the Peterson Foundation by two firms, the Democratic Global Strategy Group and the Republican North Star Opinion Research. They polled 2,500 likely voters, 500 in each of five states, including Ohio, from Aug. 20 to Aug. 27. The margin of error was plus or minus 4.4 percentage points in each state .</p> <p>Most Ohioans did not know what is coming. Over half, 53%, were unaware of the automatic benefit cuts set for 2032 . Once they were told about them, 75% said they would be more likely to back a Senate candidate who has a plan to stop the cuts . And 88% said lawmakers should talk about the problem more .</p> <p>On specific ideas, 72% of Ohio voters supported raising the income cap on Social Security taxes. Another 68% supported capping benefits for higher-income retirees . Today, wages above a set limit are not taxed for Social Security, so very high earners stop paying in partway through the year. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a budget watchdog, raising the cap alone would close about 65% of the shortfall .</p> <h2>The cut on the calendar</h2> <p>Social Security retirement checks are paid from the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund. According to an analysis of this year&#39;s Social Security Trustees Report by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, that fund is projected to run out in 2032. After that, only 78% of the benefits owed could be paid . Counted together, the retirement and disability funds can pay full benefits until 2034, then about 83% .</p> <p>For Ohio retirees, the CRFB puts the average cut at $487 a month . Its national figure, built on an automatic 24% cut, averaged $500 a month .</p> <h2>Husted: protect it, but not that way</h2> <p>Husted has called Social Security a sacred commitment . In a June interview on the &quot;Guy Benson Show,&quot; he said he opposed a plan from Ohio&#39;s other senator, Republican Bernie Moreno, and Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts to raise the tax cap .</p> <blockquote><p>This rifle approach with a giant tax increase is not the way I&#39;d go about it.</p><p>&mdash; Jon Husted, U.S. senator, R-Ohio</p></blockquote> <p>He also said, in the same interview, that the program needs help across party lines . But the interview moved on without Husted saying what he would do to fix Social Security, and his office did not answer the Capital Journal&#39;s questions for its Oct. 30 story .</p> <blockquote><p>We need to protect it. We need to make it stronger. I also agree that it will require a bipartisan solution.</p><p>&mdash; Jon Husted, U.S. senator, R-Ohio</p></blockquote> <p>On the trail, Husted has pointed instead to the Republican tax law. He said he was proud to support the $6,000 tax deduction in the working family tax cut act for families receiving Social Security . That deduction lowers some seniors&#39; income taxes. It does nothing to stop the 2032 cut.</p> <h2>Brown: make the top earners pay in</h2> <p>Brown said in October that he would raise the income level at which Social Security taxes are paid, calling for billionaires to pay their fair share . In an AARP voter guide, he said he would always oppose Wall Street&#39;s efforts to privatize Social Security .</p> <blockquote><p>we need to make sure that billionaires are paying their fair share by raising the tax cap</p><p>&mdash; Sherrod Brown, former U.S. senator and Democratic Senate candidate, D-Ohio</p></blockquote> <p>Brown touted himself as the lead sponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act. That law ended the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, two rules that cut benefits for many teachers, police officers and other public workers with pensions . In his final pitch to voters this week, he said it restored benefits to 250,000 Ohioans .</p> <blockquote><p>The Social Security Fairness Act, which 250,000 Ohioans had their Social Security restored that they had lost</p><p>&mdash; Sherrod Brown, former U.S. senator and Democratic Senate candidate, D-Ohio</p></blockquote> <p>Brown has also gone after Husted, saying in a statement that Husted &quot;wants to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits that countless Ohio families rely on&quot; . That is a campaign charge. Husted says he is &quot;fully committed to protecting the benefits&quot; seniors have earned .</p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>That matters because the 2032 deadline is close, and the next Senate will hold six-year terms. If Congress does nothing, the cut happens on its own. Senators who say they want to protect Social Security but name no plan are, in practice, leaving that deadline in place.</p> <p>Not every expert thinks the tax cap is the whole answer. Andrew Biggs of the conservative American Enterprise Institute warned that &quot;Everyone is somehow hoping that someone else will pay the bill for Social Security reform&quot; . Even so, the poll shows the tax-cap idea has support in both parties in Ohio.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/ohio-poll-85-want-social-security-fixed-husted-rejects-the-plan-72-support">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/ohio-poll-85-want-social-security-fixed-husted-rejects-the-plan-72-support.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Ohio Capital Journal (via Stay Tuned Sandusky), “New poll: Huge majorities of Ohioans want Congress to fix Social Security now” (2026-10-30). staytunedsandusky.com/p/new-poll-huge-majorities-of-ohioans
2. WKYC 3News (via Yahoo News), “Husted, Brown make final pitches to Ohio voters in U.S. Senate race” (2026-11-02). yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/husted-brown-final-pitches-
3. Newsweek, “Sherrod Brown vs. Jon Husted's Plans for Medicare and Social Security” (2026-10-26). newsweek.com/sherrod-brown-vs-jon-husteds-plans-for-medicare
4. The Times Leader (Martins Ferry, Ohio), “Battleground voters, including in Ohio, want Social Security fixed, but not with more debt” (2026-09-21). timesleaderonline.com/news/local-news/2026/09/battleground-v
5. National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, “Viewpoint: Analysis of the 2026 Social Security Trustees Report” (2026-06-24). ncpssm.org/?p=55185
6. Gray News (via KCRG), “Social Security recipients could see $500 cuts to monthly benefits by 2032 - here's why” (2026-06-04). kcrg.com/2026/06/04/social-security-recipients-could-see-500

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