Ohio Republican Senator Faces Backlash for Using Fatal Crash in Campaign Ad

Senator Jon Husted, 59, authorized a campaign spot that used the April 11 crash on I-71 in Delaware County, which claimed the lives of Lynnea Soposki, 36, her husband Luke, 37, and their one-year-old son Logan. The ad, paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, tied the incident to Democratic opponent Sherrod Brown’s past immigration comments, ending with the claim that Ohio voters paid the price because of Brown.

Surviving relatives protested, stating they were neither asked nor gave permission to use the crash site footage or a family photograph taken by a friend. They asserted the tragedy is not a political statement and called for the ad’s removal. A source familiar with the campaign said the Soposki-focused ad has finished its cycle and been swapped out. When approached for comment, NRSC regional press secretary Nick Puglia reiterated accusations against Brown, refusing to withdraw the messaging.