WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president.

  • Sen. Brown becomes highest-ranking Democrat in Ohio to endorse Biden
  • Decision comes over a year after Brown decided against his own 2020 run
  • Brown says he assumes he’ll campaign for Biden down the road

Brown broke the news to me over a video conference call on Tuesday afternoon, adding that he’s already cast a primary ballot for Biden. 
 
“I voted absentee — voted early — before the primary was moved up,” Brown said. “I voted for Joe Biden and support him.” 
 
When asked if he plans on campaigning for the former vice president once/if the campaign trail can return to some type of normal following the coronavirus outbreak, Brown said most likely. 
 
“I assume I will,” Brown said. “I don’t have any plans now. I mean, everything — it’s everyday, all day working to combat the coronavirus. That’s my focus; that will continue to be my focus. The election obviously won’t take care of itself, but the campaigning is going to be a little upside down this year. That’s not really something I worry about. What I worry about is making sure that people can vote and not have the risk of getting sick when they go vote.” 
 
Shortly after Brown spoke with me, the Biden campaign sent out a statement formally making the announcement. 
 
In it, Brown said, “Dignity of Work isn't a slogan — it's who we are, and how we govern; Joe Biden understands that.” 
 
Brown is the fourth Ohio Democrat in Congress to endorse Biden, following Representatives Tim Ryan (D, 13th Congressional District), Marcia Fudge (D, 11th Congressional District), and Marcy Kaptur (D, 9th Congressional District). 
 
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D, 3rd Congressional District) has not yet announced who she plans to support. 
 
Brown’s endorsement is Biden’s biggest one in Ohio yet, since Brown is the only Democrat elected statewide (besides judges) and seriously considered running for president himself last year. 
 
I was the only reporter to travel with Brown and his wife, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Connie Schultz, on every leg of a “Dignity of Work” listening tour they went on in early 2019 while considering a 2020 run. 
 
Last month, Ohio’s primary was delayed because of the coronavirus. It is now scheduled for April 28 and will be conducted entirely by mail.