A new poll shows Democrat Amy Acton leading Republican Vivek Ramaswamy by 3 percentage points in the Ohio gubernatorial race, according to a Bowling Green State University/YouGov survey released Wednesday. Acton holds 48% support, while Ramaswamy has 45%, with 7% of voters undecided or supporting another candidate. The margin falls within the poll’s margin of error, indicating a statistical dead heat.
The race remains highly competitive with less than two months until the November 3 election, as highlighted by the Cook Political Report’s recent reclassification of Ohio’s governor’s race from “lean Republican” to “toss-up.” The RealClearPolitics average of polls also reflects a near-even contest between the two candidates.
Debate and Campaign Controversies
The campaign has been marked by disputes over debate participation and policy accusations. Ramaswamy has criticized Acton for declining debate invitations, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that she is “hiding from the voters.” Acton’s campaign responded by calling Ramaswamy a “scam artist” who spreads “baseless lies” about her and her family, while emphasizing her focus on direct engagement with Ohio voters.
The dispute escalated further when Ramaswamy accepted interview offers from CNN and an NBC affiliate, prompting Acton’s campaign to assert she was prioritizing conversations with Ohioans over national media appearances. Both candidates have accused each other of making false statements.
Incident at Campaign Stop
On September 6, an altercation occurred at the Canfield Fair in northeast Ohio, where an armed individual lunged at Acton, injuring multiple people. Acton’s campaign condemned the incident, stating, “This kind of violence has no place in Ohio.” Mahoning County Prosecutor Lynn Maro later informed a judge that the suspect, Patrick Havas, 38, appeared to have acted alone and was not targeting Acton specifically. The case remains under review.
Policy and Investment Focus
Ramaswamy has also criticized Acton over her past role as Ohio’s health director during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Acton has highlighted Ramaswamy’s investments in data centers as a point of contention. The debate over these issues has intensified as the election approaches, with both campaigns framing their opponents’ records and actions as disqualifying for the governorship.