Acton Wins Ohio Governorship Over Trump-Backed Ramaswamy
The Democrat secured the office with 50.8% of the vote, capping a contentious campaign marked by a controversial attack ad.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Dr. Amy Acton has won the Ohio governor’s race.
Acton defeated Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in an open contest that drew intense national scrutiny in the final weeks before the election. The Associated Press called the race for Acton on Tuesday evening. She captured 50.8% of the vote with 86% of ballots counted. Ramaswamy, who received the endorsement of President Donald Trump, finished with 45.9% of the vote.
The victory ends a twenty-year streak of Republican control in Ohio’s executive office. Republicans had projected a strong showing in a state that President Trump won by double digits in 2024. However, shifting poll dynamics and a controversial campaign strategy altered the outlook in the final days. The race remained competitive until the closing hours, with major forecasters adjusting their projections multiple times in October.
The campaign took a sharp turn in late October following the release of a negative advertisement by Ramaswamy’s team. The spot featured Acton’s estranged mother, who lost custody of Acton and her brother in 1978. That same year, their stepfather was indicted on charges of raping Acton when she was a child. The ad aired against the backdrop of a custody battle that defined Acton’s early adulthood.
Philip Stearns, Acton’s brother, condemned the advertisement in a written statement. He called the move a despicable low. Stearns noted that the ad attempted to turn the sexual abuse Acton endured at age twelve into a political talking point. He described the attack as desperate and disgusting, arguing it revealed the core character of Ramaswamy. The criticism came from across the political aisle, including from the incumbent Republican governor.
Governor Mike DeWine, who was term-limited out of the race, described the advertisement as deeply troubling and just plain wrong. He called for the campaign to rescind the spot but maintained his endorsement of Ramaswamy and the full Republican ticket. Ramaswamy defended the decision to run the ad, a stance supported by both President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. The incident contributed to the Cook Political Report shifting its rating from Lean Republican to Lean Democrat on October 23.
Acton previously served as the director of the state’s health department during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her win marks a notable shift in the state’s partisan balance after a decade of Republican dominance.
