Amy Acton elected Ohio Governor, defeating Vivek Ramaswamy

Democrat Amy Acton has defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy to become the first Democratic governor of Ohio in nearly 20 years. Projections from major outlets, including CBS News and NBC News, confirm Acton's victory in the closely watched race.

The Fox News Decision Desk reported that Acton's win shatters a two-decade Republican grip on the governor's mansion. Al Jazeera noted that Acton is the first Democrat to hold the office since 2006. Throughout her campaign, Acton focused on public education and affordability to gain bipartisan support.

Fox News reported that Acton depicted Ramaswamy as an out-of-touch, wealthy candidate who advocated for policies that benefited people like himself. In response, Ramaswamy and his Republican allies criticized Acton's past performance as the director of the Ohio Department of Health, specifically citing school and business closures during the 2020 pandemic.

The campaign was further complicated by a controversial advertisement released by the Ramaswamy campaign featuring Acton's estranged mother. According to Fox News, the ad drew backlash from both parties, including current Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who called it "deeply troubling." While Donald Trump and JD Vance defended the ad, it was taken off the air shortly before Election Day.

Republicans also targeted Acton for the 2020 decision to delay primary voting by closing polling stations. However, Governor DeWine defended her record, stating that he had instructed her to carry out the delay and asserting that "the buck stops with the governor."

Background

Amy Acton previously served as the director of the Ohio Department of Health during the early response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She won the Democratic nomination for governor in Columbus, Ohio, on May 5, 2026.