Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has lost the race for Ohio governor to Democrat Amy Acton, a significant setback in a state that former President Donald Trump carried by approximately 11 points two years ago. Acton secured 50.7 percent of the vote compared to Ramaswamy's 46 percent, with 85 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.
Acton, a physician, becomes the first woman and the first Jewish person elected as Ohio's governor. She is also the first Democrat to win the state's governorship since 2006. Acton previously led Ohio's Department of Health under Republican Governor Mike DeWine and was prominent during the state's COVID-19 shutdowns. She had not previously held elected office.
The campaign was significantly impacted by a controversial ad released by Ramaswamy's campaign two weeks before Election Day. The ad featured Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who called her daughter a liar and suggested she was mentally ill. The advertisement did not mention that Arthur had lost custody of Acton in 1978, following charges against Acton's stepfather for raping her at age 12. Acton has stated she has not seen her mother since a court appearance in 1978 concerning the allegations.
Governor DeWine described the ad as "deeply, deeply troubling" and urged Ramaswamy to withdraw it, though he did not revoke his endorsement of Ramaswamy. J.D. Vance advised critics to "stop whining," while Trump asserted the ad "had nothing to do" with Acton's stepfather.
Sources indicated that national Republicans worried the backlash from the ad could also impact Senator Jon Husted's race against Sherrod Brown. A GOP internal poll reportedly showed Acton's lead increasing from two points to eight following the ad.
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who ran for president in 2024, initially refused to pull the ad but later relented under pressure in the final week before the election. He had been seeking to become the nation's first Hindu governor. Acton's campaign focused on healthcare and rising medical costs.