Ohio Governor Race 2026: Ramaswamy vs. Acton

Ohio's open race to succeed term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine (R) pits Vivek Ramaswamy (R) against Amy Acton (D). Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, cleared the field with Trump's early endorsement; Acton, a physician and former state health director, is making her first run for office. Polling has consistently favored Acton, even though Trump carried Ohio by 8 to 11 points in all three of his runs and the state has never elected a woman governor.

Both nominees are closing on taxes and costs. Ramaswamy is running on eliminating the state income tax, and he says he worked with his running mate, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, to pass a 90-day suspension of the state fuel tax. Acton's closing pitch is a tax cut for working families, lower drug prices, medical-debt relief, and making data centers "pay their fair share." At an October 12 Youngstown rally, President Trump called Acton "a radical left lunatic," and Ramaswamy pledged to be "the most conservative governor" in state history.

The race has turned expensive and personal. Ramaswamy and his allies had run $101 million in ads against Acton by mid-October, $36 million of it his own, while Acton's side had spent about a third as much. Acton has refused to debate Ramaswamy, and her campaign calls him a "swindler," which he denies.

In the campaign's final weeks, Ramaswamy's team confirmed it produced a one-minute ad in which Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calls her a liar. The campaign said it would spend $4 million airing it, and Ramaswamy campaign manager Jonathan Ewing called it "a campaign-ending moment for Amy Acton." Acton has not spoken to her mother since 1978, when Acton's stepfather was indicted on a rape charge for allegedly assaulting Acton. Her campaign answered with a video of her brother backing her account. By the time Ramaswamy's campaign took responsibility for the ad, more than 676,000 Ohioans had already cast ballots.

The ad split Republicans. DeWine called it "deeply, deeply troubling" and urged the campaign to take it down, but said he is keeping his endorsement. Sen. Jon Husted (R) said he would not have run it, and Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) said much the same. Casey Putsch, who ran against Ramaswamy for the nomination, said he will vote for Acton. Vice President JD Vance said he was "a little bit disgusted" by Republicans "whining" about it. Beyond the party, the Columbus Dispatch endorsed Acton on October 21. Don Kissick (L), also on the ballot, called on Ramaswamy to withdraw.

Voters will also decide Issue 3, which would write Ohio's existing photo ID requirement for in-person voting into the state constitution. Ramaswamy and Acton both back it.

Forecasters are split, and their ratings average to a Toss-up: Cook rates the race a Toss-up, Sabato's Crystal Ball moved it to Lean Democratic on October 22, citing Acton's polling lead, and Pluribus News rated it Lean Republican in July.