Amy Acton Defeats Vivek Ramaswamy to Become Ohio’s First Woman Governor

Amy Acton, a physician and former Ohio health director, defeated Vivek Ramaswamy in the race for governor on November 3, 2026. She received about 51 percent of the vote to his 45 or 46 percent, according to projections from CBS News, the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ.

Acton becomes the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office since Ted Strickland in 2006. Ohio last elected a Democrat governor two decades ago. President Donald Trump carried the state by margins of 8 to 11 points in his three runs.

Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate who co-led the Department of Government Efficiency with Elon Musk, conceded. He said he is rooting for the state and for Acton. Acton succeeds term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine.

In her acceptance speech at a Hilton in downtown Columbus, Acton said the healing begins today. She promised to work with anyone to make life better for Ohioans, whether they voted for her or not. She has spoken about her own experience with homelessness as a child and campaigned on ending corruption, tax cuts for working families and helping the elderly age in place.

The race turned bitter in its final weeks. Ramaswamy spent about $4 million to air an ad that featured Acton’s estranged mother. The mother called Acton a liar. Acton has not spoken to her mother since age 12. Court records show her stepfather was charged with sexually abusing her when she was under 12. The stepfather later fled the state. The ad drew criticism from Republicans as well as Democrats. The Columbus Dispatch editorial board called it revolting and unsettling. Governor DeWine also repudiated the commercial.

Acton, age 60, served as Ohio’s health director early in the COVID-19 pandemic under DeWine. Her daily briefings received positive attention at the time, though some later questioned whether memories of restrictions would hurt her. She focused instead on affordability and health care costs, issues that hit Ohio hard. Ramaswamy faced questions about flying private jets to cities he could reach by car in under two hours and about relocating a financial services company from Ohio to Texas.

Unofficial results showed Acton with roughly 2.05 million votes to Ramaswamy’s 1.86 million in one count, with turnout near 51 percent of registered voters. Libertarian Don Kissick took about 3 percent. Acton’s running mate is David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. Ramaswamy ran with Robert McColley, president of the Ohio Senate.

Ohio has shifted rightward in recent cycles, yet voter concerns about living costs and data centers helped make the race competitive. Acton’s win adds to Democratic gains in governorships across the country in these midterms. She takes office in January.

The result leaves Ohio with a Democratic governor for the first time in a generation while the state continues to send Republicans to Congress and the White House in recent cycles. Acton has said she will focus on practical steps for families rather than national fights. How she works with a Republican-leaning legislature will shape the next four years in Columbus.