NEW REPORT: Jon Husted Caught Starring in Fraudulent Ad Featuring DC Businesses

January 14, 2026

Columbus, Ohio - Jon Husted is under fire for starring in a fraudulent television ad that aired across Ohio claiming to highlight local small businesses, even though every business featured in the ad was located in Washington, D.C.

Ohio Democratic Party Senior Communications Advisor Tony Wen released the following statement:

"Jon Husted wants Ohio small business owners to think he is on their side, but he couldn't be bothered to visit a single Ohio small business to film his ad. While Senator Husted chases fake photo ops, his support for reckless tariffs is driving up costs across the state."

See For Yourself:

TiffinOhio.net: Ohio Sen. Jon Husted promotes D.C. businesses in Ohio TV ad

• Ohio voters were told by Republican Sen. Jon Husted to support "local small businesses." But the businesses featured in the ad were all in Washington, D.C.

• The ad aired on stations in Toledo, Columbus and Cleveland and featured Husted alongside three business owners discussing the importance of small businesses to their communities. The advertisement did not disclose that the businesses shown were located outside Ohio.

• One of the businesses shown in the ad was Cinder BBQ, a restaurant operating in Washington, D.C. The segment included footage of one of the restaurant's owners speaking inside the business.

• Television airplay records show the ad aired on WTOL in Toledo, WBNS in Columbus and WKYC in Cleveland as of Oct. 22, 2025. At no point did the advertisement disclose the location of the businesses featured.

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