Ohio governor: Acton vs. Ramaswamy, and the ad that moved the race
An ad featuring Democrat Amy Acton's estranged mother set off a backlash, and two forecasters moved the open governor's race toward Democrats.
Who's running
Gov. Mike DeWine is term-limited. Democrat Amy Acton is Ohio's former public health director, known for leading the state's early COVID-19 response. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur who ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and has never held office.
The ad
Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed it produced a one-minute video in which Acton's birth mother, Donna Arthur, calls Acton a liar and suggests she has mental health problems, and said it would spend $4 million promoting it. Acton was removed from her mother's custody at age 12 after her stepfather was indicted for raping her, and has spoken publicly about homelessness and abuse in her childhood.
Acton said: "I won't normalize somebody who has said that my childhood is just something I'm complaining about." Ramaswamy spokesperson Connie Luck said Acton "has some serious problems with the truth that the public needs to be aware of," and that Arthur was not paid.
The ratings and the polls
Sabato's Crystal Ball moved the race from Toss-up to Lean Democratic on October 22, and the Cook Political Report did the same on October 23. Cook's Jessica Taylor wrote that the ad "confirmed that the race is slipping away from him"; Ramaswamy's numbers had already been slipping.
• Marist, Oct. 15–18 (likely voters): Acton 50%, Ramaswamy 43%. Acton led independents 53% to 34%.
• VoteHub/Verasight, Oct. 1–20: Acton 46%, Ramaswamy 45%
• BGSU/YouGov, Oct. 9: Acton 50%, Ramaswamy 44%
• co/efficient (R), Oct. 6: Ramaswamy 45%, Acton 43%
What each side argues
Ramaswamy's supporters say he would cut taxes, shrink state government and bring an outsider's energy to Columbus, and that voters should judge Acton on her record during the pandemic shutdowns. Acton's supporters argue she is a steady, pragmatic choice focused on health care and costs, and that the ad shows Ramaswamy is unfit to lead the state.
Sources
- In Ohio governor's race, Acton condemns Ramaswamy for ad featuring her estranged mother (AP via Boston.com, Oct 20)
- Amid ad uproar, Ohio governor's race moves from Toss Up to Lean Democrat (Cook Political Report, Oct 23)
- Ohio Gov race moves from Toss Up to Lean D after Ramaswamy ad backlash (Mediaite, Oct 23)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)