Byline: Hannah Knowles, Liz Goodwin

Sherrod Brown plans to run for Senate in Ohio again, according to several people familiar with his plans, boosting Democrats' hopes of retaking a seat in the increasingly red-leaning state.

Brown represented Ohio in the Senate for almost two decades before losing his seat to Republican Bernie Moreno last fall. First elected to the chamber in 2006, he defied his state's rightward shift for many years and was viewed as Democrats' best shot to keep Ohio competitive. He outperformed Democrats' presidential ticket - courting working-class voters through his own brand of left-leaning populism - but lost by about four points last fall.

Brown now intends to mount another Senate campaign, according to the people familiar with his plans, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. He would be challenging Sen. Jon Husted (R). Husted was lieutenant...