Ohio Governor Race 2026: Ramaswamy vs Acton Explained
Ohio's open governor race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton is in the spotlight after a controversial ad and new polls. Here are the candidates, their positions, the latest polling and key dates.
- Ohio's open governor race pits Republican Vivek Ramaswamy against Democrat Amy Acton, with Libertarian Don Kissick also on the ballot; Election Day is November 3, 2026.
- It is trending after Ramaswamy's campaign aired an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother, which Gov. Mike DeWine and others criticized while the campaign defended it.
- Most October polls show Acton ahead by single digits, while co/efficient and ActiVote surveys show Ramaswamy narrowly ahead.
The 2026 Ohio governor race pits Republican Vivek Ramaswamy against Democrat Amy Acton, with Libertarian Don Kissick also on the ballot, and Election Day is November 3, 2026. It is trending because a Ramaswamy campaign ad featuring Acton's estranged mother drew criticism from both parties, and because new polls mostly show Acton ahead. As of October 26, 2026, most public surveys give Acton a single-digit lead, while two recent ones show Ramaswamy narrowly in front.
The seat is open because Republican Gov. Mike DeWine cannot seek a third consecutive term, according to Wikipedia’s race summary. Here is what happened, who the candidates are, where they stand and what the polls say.
Why the Ohio governor race is trending
On October 20, Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed to the Statehouse News Bureau that an ad featuring Donna Arthur, Acton's estranged mother, was its own. The ad first circulated online without a "paid for by" disclaimer. In it, Arthur says Acton misrepresents her childhood. The campaign said it was spending $4 million to run the ad on TV and online.
Acton has said publicly that she was sexually abused and lived in a tent as a child. Court records cited by the Statehouse News Bureau show Arthur's husband was indicted for assaulting Acton when she was 12 and left Ohio before trial. Acton's brother, Phil Stearns, supports her account.
Reaction crossed party lines. DeWine called the ad "deeply, deeply troubling" and asked the campaign to take it down, but said his endorsement of the Republican ticket stands. Libertarian nominee Don Kissick called on Ramaswamy to withdraw. Vice President JD Vance told reporters in Cincinnati that "whether the ad was appropriate or not is not really my concern."
Ramaswamy's campaign has stood by the ad. Spokesperson Connie Luck said "the first and only candidate to attack the mother of her opponent in this race was Amy Acton." Acton's campaign released a statement from Stearns calling it a "desperate, disgusting attack."
Race ratings moved too. The Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball both shifted the contest from toss-up to lean Democrat in the week of October 19, the Statehouse News Bureau reported. Inside Elections still rated it a toss-up as of October 15, per Wikipedia.
Who is Vivek Ramaswamy?
Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee, was born in Cincinnati in 1985. He studied biology at Harvard, earned a law degree at Yale and founded the biotech company Roivant Sciences in 2014, according to his Wikipedia biography. He ran for president in 2024, withdrew after the Iowa caucuses and endorsed Donald Trump, then briefly co-led the Department of Government Efficiency effort before leaving to run for governor.
He launched his campaign in February 2025 with Trump's endorsement and won the May 5, 2026, Republican primary with about 82% of the vote over Casey Putsch. His running mate is Rob McColley. DeWine endorsed him in January 2026.
Democrats have targeted his business record. A group backed by the Democratic Governors Association ran an ad citing allegations about a failed Alzheimer's drug from a company he founded, the Statehouse News Bureau reported. Ramaswamy has called those claims "false."
Who is Amy Acton?
Acton, the Democratic nominee, is a Youngstown-born physician trained in pediatrics and preventive medicine. DeWine appointed her director of the Ohio Department of Health in 2019, and she helped lead the state's early COVID-19 response before resigning in June 2020, according to her Wikipedia biography.
She announced her campaign in January 2025, ran unopposed in the May primary and chose David Pepper as her running mate.
Republicans have focused on her pandemic record. A Ramaswamy spokesperson told the Cincinnati Enquirer in August that "Families across Ohio were kept from dying loved ones because of Amy Acton's COVID lockdown policies," Newsweek reported. Acton has centered her message on affordability and has criticized Ramaswamy's wealth and private-jet travel.
Where the candidates stand
Taxes
Ramaswamy wants to phase out Ohio's income tax, starting with cuts in 2027, and roll property tax bills back to 2021 levels before capping their growth, according to the Statehouse News Bureau. He says population growth would help cover the cost. Acton proposes tax credits for working families, including child credits of up to $1,000, plus property tax rebates for households hit by sharp increases, and says she would not raise taxes. Neither has fully explained how the plans would be paid for, the bureau noted.
Health care
Acton has proposed having the state buy and cancel residents' medical debt and creating a prescription drug savings program. Ramaswamy says a tougher approach to Medicaid fraud could bring $3.1 billion back to Ohio, and he supports "right to try" access to investigational treatments for seriously ill patients.
Energy and data centers
Both nominees tie energy to affordability; state regulators reported average home electric bills up 13.5% from a year earlier, the bureau reported. Ramaswamy backs natural gas drilling under state land and newer nuclear technology. Acton supports an "all of the above" energy strategy, more funding for the H2Ohio water program and a drilling moratorium in Washington County over wastewater concerns.
On data centers, Acton has proposed a conditional moratorium on new projects. Ramaswamy opposes the data center sales tax break and says facilities should supply their own power and benefit their local communities.
Other issues
Ramaswamy has said he would resume executions, which have been paused since 2019, and he argues 18-year-olds should be able to buy handguns. Acton told WEWS she would support the Issue 3 voter ID amendment and has said she does not "support boys playing in girls sports," Newsweek reported.
Ohio governor polls
Public polling has mostly favored Acton since late September, though several results sit near the margin of error. Recent surveys of likely voters:
- Marist, Oct. 15–18: Acton 50%, Ramaswamy 43%. Independents favored Acton 53% to 34%.
- Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. for Fox News, Oct. 15–19: Acton 50%, Ramaswamy 48%, per the Wikipedia poll list.
- ActiVote, Sept. 27–Oct. 19 (400 voters): Ramaswamy 51.4%, Acton 48.6%, within the stated ±4.9-point margin.
- Bowling Green State University/YouGov, Sept. 29–Oct. 9 (1,000): Acton 50%, Ramaswamy 44%.
- co/efficient, a Republican firm, Oct. 5–6 (925): Ramaswamy 45%, Acton 43%, Kissick 3%.
- CNN/SSRS, Sept. 29–Oct. 5 (760): Acton 50%, Ramaswamy 42%.
- New York Times/Siena, Sept. 22–Oct. 1 (616): Acton 49%, Ramaswamy 45%.
Averages put Acton ahead by roughly 3.5 to 4 points; Newsweek cited RealClearPolling at 48.2% to 44.7% and Decision Desk HQ at about 4 points. Many Ohioans still expect a Republican win, though. In the BGSU poll, 55% predicted Ramaswamy would win, and Marist found 49% expecting him to win versus 45% for Acton.
BGSU pollster Robert Alexander noted that Republicans have finished strong in recent statewide races and said he "would be surprised if these races did not end up within the margin of error in either direction."
Key dates and how to vote
- October 5: Ohio's voter registration deadline for this election passed, per WVXU’s voter guide.
- Early voting: under way; the Statehouse News Bureau cited state data showing more than 170,000 early ballots cast by October 9.
- October 23: Ohio Republicans began an 11-day statewide bus tour with 33 planned stops.
- October 24: Former President Barack Obama was scheduled to rally in Cleveland with Acton and Senate candidate Sherrod Brown.
- November 3: Election Day. No debate is scheduled; Acton's campaign declined invitations, citing what it called inaccurate personal attacks in Ramaswamy's ads.
Ohio voters can confirm polling places and absentee deadlines with the Ohio Secretary of State or their county board of elections. Statewide Issue 3, a photo ID amendment, is also on the ballot. For the national picture, see our Election Day 2026 guide.
Our take
Based on the polling and reporting above, Acton enters the final week with a modest lead in most independent polls, while two surveys, including one from a Republican firm, show Ramaswamy slightly ahead. The ad controversy is the newest factor, but its effect is hard to measure because early voting began before it and many voters say they tune out ads. With both sides citing different polls and expectations, the result may not be clear until the votes are counted.
Frequently asked questions
Who is running for Ohio governor in 2026?
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, Democrat Amy Acton and Libertarian Don Kissick are on the November 3, 2026, ballot. Ramaswamy's running mate is Rob McColley and Acton's is David Pepper. Gov. Mike DeWine cannot seek a third consecutive term.
Who is leading in the Ohio governor race?
As of October 26, 2026, most recent public polls show Acton ahead by about 2 to 8 points, including Marist (50% to 43%, Oct. 15-18). Two polls, from co/efficient and ActiVote, show Ramaswamy ahead by 2 to 3 points. Averages cited by Newsweek put Acton up by roughly 3.5 to 4 points.
What is the Ramaswamy ad about Amy Acton's mother?
Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed on October 20 that it produced an ad in which Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, says Acton misrepresents her childhood. Acton has said she was abused as a child, and her brother supports her account. DeWine called the ad deeply troubling, while the Ramaswamy campaign has defended it.
Will Ramaswamy and Acton debate?
No debate is scheduled. Ramaswamy accepted invitations from CNN and WLWT in September, but Acton's campaign declined, citing what it called inaccurate personal attacks in his ads.
When is the Ohio governor election?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Ohio's registration deadline was October 5 and early voting is under way. Check the Ohio Secretary of State or your county board of elections for polling places and absentee deadlines.
Sources
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026, Marist Poll
- BGSU Poll (October 2026 Ohio survey), Bowling Green State University
- Ramaswamy Leads Acton in Ohio Governor Race (Oct 19, 2026), ActiVote
- GOP candidate for Ohio governor confirms ad featuring Democratic opponent's mother is his, The Statehouse News Bureau
- DeWine: Ramaswamy ad featuring Acton's mother 'deeply troubling', but his endorsement stands, The Statehouse News Bureau
- Libertarian candidate calls on Ramaswamy to withdraw from race for Ohio governor, The Statehouse News Bureau
- 2026 race for Ohio governor: Candidates have different prescriptions for healthcare, The Statehouse News Bureau
- 2026 race for Ohio governor: the candidates on tax policies they'd put in place, The Statehouse News Bureau
- 2026 race for Ohio governor: where the candidates fall on energy issues, The Statehouse News Bureau
- Candidates for Ohio governor focus on data centers in last week of campaign, The Statehouse News Bureau
- GOP candidate for governor opposes data center tax break, would resume executions in Ohio, The Statehouse News Bureau
- As ad controversy continues, Ohio Republicans launch statewide bus tour ahead of Election Day, The Statehouse News Bureau
- Former President Obama adds Ohio rally in Cleveland for Brown, Acton, The Statehouse News Bureau
- Vance announces SNAP fraud, says Republicans shouldn't worry about attack ads, WVXU
- Your voter guide to Ohio's November 2026 election, WVXU
- Vivek Ramaswamy Breaks Unwanted Record in Ohio Race vs. Amy Acton, Newsweek
- Vivek Ramaswamy Gets Boost After Five Ohio Polling Blows in a Row Against Amy Acton, Newsweek
- 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election, Wikipedia
- Vivek Ramaswamy, Wikipedia
- Amy Acton, Wikipedia
How we wrote this
GessyMorgan explainers are built from public reporting and official sources. This post draws on the 20 sources listed above, each linked where we use it. It was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources before publishing. We did not test products, attend events or interview anyone for this article. Facts are current as of October 26, 2026, and we update the post when they change.
