Republican Vivek Ramaswamy has lost the race for Ohio governor to Democrat Amy Acton, marking a significant gain for Democrats in a state that voted for Donald Trump by a considerable margin in 2020.
Acton secured 50.7 percent of the vote compared to Ramaswamy's 46 percent, with 85 percent of ballots counted, according to the Associated Press. Acton's victory makes her the first woman and the first Jewish person elected to the state's governorship. She is also the first Democrat to win the Ohio governorship since 2006.
Acton, a physician, previously headed Ohio's Department of Health under Republican Governor Mike DeWine and gained public recognition for her role in the state's COVID-19 response. She had no prior elected office experience.
The race became contentious in the weeks leading up to Election Day after Ramaswamy's campaign released an advertisement featuring Acton's estranged mother. The ad portrayed Acton as a liar and suggested mental instability, without mentioning that her mother had lost custody of Acton in 1978 following charges against her stepfather for child rape. Acton has stated she has not seen her mother since a court appearance in 1978 related to the incident. Governor DeWine described the ad as "deeply, deeply troubling" and urged Ramaswamy to withdraw it.
Despite the controversy, Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who ran for president in 2024, initially resisted calls to pull the ad. He eventually yielded to pressure in the final week before the election. A Republican internal poll reportedly showed Acton's lead widening from two to eight points following the ad's release.
Acton, who spoke openly about childhood homelessness and abuse during her campaign, also focused on healthcare and the rising cost of medical care. She succeeds Governor DeWine, who is term-limited.