It was widely believed that Brown would be running for governor of Ohio, but was lobbied by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to instead take on Husted as Democrats will battle to take back control of the Senate in next year's midterm elections.

Former Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio announced Monday he is launching a comeback bid, giving Democrats a boost in their longshot campaign to win back control of the Senate.

Sherrod Brown has wasted little time raising money since joining Ohio's U.S. Senate race on Monday. His campaign hauled in more than $3 million in its first 24 hours since he announced he would run.