Democrat Amy Acton has defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio's gubernatorial race, shattering a 20-year Republican grip on the state's governorship in a notable upset. The Fox News Decision Desk projected Acton's victory, which signals a potential shift in the political landscape of a state long considered a Republican stronghold.
Acton ran a campaign focused on addressing affordability and public education, aiming to appeal to a broad range of voters. She positioned Ramaswamy as out of touch and proponent of policies that primarily benefited himself. A turning point in the race occurred in the final weeks of the campaign when Ramaswamy faced bipartisan backlash for a campaign advertisement that targeted Acton's mother. The ad, which referenced Acton's estrangement from her mother and a past custody battle involving abuse, drew criticism from many, including current Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who called it "deeply troubling."
Ramaswamy, however, defended the ad, receiving support from former President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. The advertisement was eventually removed from air days before Election Day, with Ramaswamy's campaign stating its planned run had concluded.
Ramaswamy's campaign also focused on Acton's tenure as director of the Ohio Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, criticizing her role in the state's early response, including school and business closures, and the delay of primary voting. However, Governor DeWine complicated this line of attack by stating that the ultimate decisions rested with him and that he had instructed Acton to proceed with the voting delay. DeWine further distanced himself from Ramaswamy's platform by questioning the affordability of proposed tax cuts and criticizing plans to consolidate public universities.
Despite these challenges, DeWine had officially endorsed Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy also faced scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum for perceived missteps on the campaign trail, including a widely ridiculed video from a batting cage and a controversial Christmas Day social media post criticizing American culture and foreign-born engineers, which angered some on the right.
Acton, while facing Republican criticism over her pandemic-era decisions, sought to project a more moderate image, notably opposing policies that allow biological males to compete in women's sports. Ramaswamy, who entered the race with strong ties to the Trump movement and had been a prominent surrogate after ending his own presidential bid, had initially been expected to maintain the GOP's long-standing hold on the governor's mansion.
The last Democratic governor in Ohio was Ted Strickland, who defeated Republican Ken Blackwell in 2006. Ramaswamy had run without significant primary opposition and with a substantial financial advantage over Acton.