Amy Acton Pulls Off Win to Be Elected as Ohio’s First Democrat Governor in 20 Years

For the first time since 2006, Ohio has elected a Democrat governor. Dr. Amy Acton, who served as the health director under Republican Gov. Mike DeWine during the COVID-19 pandemic, was declared the winner on Tuesday night.

With 77% of votes counted as of 10:40 p.m. EST, Acton enjoyed 50.7% of the vote to Republican Vivek Ramaswamy’s 45.9%, according to Decision Desk HQ.

The win over Ramaswamy follows the controversy surrounding an ad he put out against Acton involving her estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who claimed her daughter was lying. The Acton campaign responded by bringing up childhood sexual abuse that Acton said she suffered from her stepfather, whom Arthur remained married to until his death.

Ramaswamy rigorously defended the ad, as did President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a friend of Ramaswamy and fellow Ohio native.

According to Spectrum News’ Harri Leigh, Amy Acton claimed victory in a press release statement. The statement expressed a sense of “unity and decency”: 
 
“Tonight, Ohio has chosen unity and decency over division and hate. Ohio is ready for a governor who will fight to lower costs, take on corruption, and build a state where everyone gets a fair shot. Regardless of who you voted for, I will be a governor for all Ohioans. This isn’t about party; it’s about building a better future for our state. Thank you to every Ohioan who made their voice heard. It is the honor of my life to serve as your governor,” Acton said.

At approximately 11:10pm, Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage at the Ohio Republican Party election night event to offer his concession speech, letting supporters know he had left Acton a message. He stood next to his wife, Arpoova, as well as his running mate, Senate President Rob McColley, and his wife. 

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As Ramaswamy acknowledged, it was “a tough and challenging night for Republicans across the country, and a tough night for us here in Ohio.”  

Democrats flipped the House of Representatives and the Senate. 

“It was a tough race. It was bitter at times in both directions,” Ramaswamy acknowledged, though he hoped Acton would “bring the state together” and said that “we are rooting for the success of this state,” calling on his supporters to be “rooting for the success of her administration,” leading to a smattering of applause from the crowd.  

Ramaswamy received more enthusiasm from the crowd when thanking law enforcement in the state.  

Ramaswamy, however, mentioned having “serious concerns” about the state, though he still went for a hopeful tone.  

“I do believe that there have been many ups and downs in our country’s history, but we have, in the end, still found our way upward. I have confidence that sometimes these things happen for a reason,” he said. He spoke of how “God has a plan” and there “may be some patience required.” 

“But in the fullness of time, our state’s best days and our country’s best days will still yet be ahead of us. This is the greatest country known to the history of mankind, the only country built on a set of ideals that brought together a divided group of people 250 years ago to the year. I believe those ideals still exist,” he continued, as he referenced the founding fathers and their ideals. 

Trump and Vance had both campaigned for Ramaswamy and other Ohio Republican candidates throughout October, including on Oct. 28 in Chillicothe. Former President Barack Obama, meanwhile, had campaigned for Acton in Cleveland on Oct. 24.

Ohio’s gubernatorial campaign became increasingly personal and ugly in the final days, though without personal interaction between the candidates. Although Ramaswamy had agreed to debate Acton, the latter refused to debate, a narrative that the Ramaswamy campaign and the Ohio Republican Party frequently brought up until the election.

In addition to attacking Acton over what he said involved a habit of lying and her refusal to debate, Ramaswamy and Ohio Republicans focused on bashing her over her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as health director under DeWine, as well as her campaign events being closed to the press and domestic disputes that prompted police to be called to her home.

As historic as Acton’s win may be, her power may ultimately be limited if Republicans retain legislative supermajorities that allow them to override vetoes.

Although Ohio has not elected a Democrat governor in decades, Acton did lead Ramaswamy in the polls, even before the ad was released, according to RealClearPolling, as well as according to forecasters and prediction markets.

Acton will be inaugurated on Jan. 11, 2027, to replace term-limited DeWine, who had endorsed Ramaswamy in January, not long after he picked Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate.

Although he did not pull his endorsement, DeWine criticized the ad involving Acton’s mother.