Ohio voters elected Democrat Amy Acton as the state’s next governor, ending a 20-year Republican hold on the office. In a closely watched race, Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy with 50.7% of the vote to his 46%, according to the Associated Press. The victory marks the first time since 2006 that Ohio has elected a Democratic governor.
Acton’s win followed a surge in support after Ramaswamy’s campaign aired a controversial advertisement featuring her estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who accused Acton of being a liar and unfit to lead. The ad drew bipartisan condemnation after it was revealed that Arthur had lost custody of Acton in 1978 following allegations that Acton’s stepfather, Cledith Arthur, raped her when she was 12 years old. Acton has not had contact with her mother since that time.
Ramaswamy, a billionaire biotech entrepreneur and former 2024 presidential candidate, had outspent Acton by a significant margin, pouring $82 million into his campaign, including $4 million on the controversial ad. Acton, a physician and former Ohio Department of Health director, raised $38 million without self-funding. Her campaign focused on affordability and healthcare access, while Ramaswamy emphasized efficiency and business experience.
Sherrod Brown reclaims Senate seat
In a separate race, Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown narrowly defeated Republican Jon Husted to reclaim his U.S. Senate seat. Brown led by more than 2 percentage points as of late Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. The victory comes after Brown lost his seat in 2024 but regained it in this election cycle. Husted, who was appointed to complete JD Vance’s Senate term, criticized Brown’s long tenure, arguing that he had not delivered tangible improvements for Ohioans.
Brown, a three-term senator first elected in 1992, had strong name recognition, with a quarter of Ohio voters mistakenly believing he was the incumbent in the race. The election occurred amid high gas and grocery prices, which voters linked to policies from the Trump administration, including the war in Iran.
Key takeaways
- Acton’s victory represents a historic shift in Ohio politics, making her the first woman and first Jewish governor in state history.
- The controversial ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother became a defining moment in the race, overshadowing Ramaswamy’s spending advantage.
- Brown’s Senate win defies historical trends of midterm losses for the party in power, with economic concerns playing a central role in voter decisions.
Campaign dynamics and voter turnout
Ohio saw record early voting, with 1.73 million ballots cast before Election Day, surpassing the 2022 gubernatorial early voting record. Acton’s campaign emphasized her working-class roots, including her experience with childhood homelessness, while Ramaswamy positioned himself as an outsider reformer. Neither candidate had prior elected experience, though Ramaswamy had served as a co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration.
Acton’s transition plan includes addressing affordability and healthcare access, while Ramaswamy’s campaign had focused on reducing government waste and inefficiency. The race highlighted divisions within the Republican Party, with figures like Mike DeWine and Jon Husted criticizing the ad, while Donald Trump and JD Vance defended its use.