Ohio Governor Election 2026
Mike DeWine (R) is term-limited. Rating: Lean D.
Status: upcoming. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Acton | Democratic | Former state health director |
| Vivek Ramaswamy · profile | Republican | Entrepreneur |
Polls
| Date | Pollster | Amy Acton | Vivek Ramaswamy |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 20, 2026 | VoteHub/Verasight | 46% | 45% |
| October 18, 2026 | Marist | 50% | 43% |
| October 9, 2026 | BGSU/YouGov | 50% | 44% |
| October 6, 2026 | co/efficient (R) | 43% | 45% |
| October 5, 2026 | SSRS | 50% | 42% |
| October 1, 2026 | NYT/Siena | 49% | 45% |
| September 30, 2026 | YouGov | 48% | 44% |
| September 27, 2026 | Suffolk | 50% | 41% |
| September 27, 2026 | Marist | 50% | 44% |
| September 27, 2026 | Big Data Poll (R) | 44% | 46% |
| September 10, 2026 | BGSU/YouGov | 48% | 45% |
| August 10, 2026 | Beacon (D)/Shaw (R) | 48% | 50% |
Average of the 7 most recent polls: Amy Acton 48%, Vivek Ramaswamy 44%. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
Where the candidates stand
Amy Acton (D)
- Supports reproductive freedom and access to abortion care. (2026-09) source
- Favors an all-of-the-above energy plan and restoring renewable energy standards. (2026-09) source
- Opposes Ohio's private-school voucher program. (2026-05) source
- Pro-union; opposes right-to-work and backs teachers' right to organize. (2026-09) source
- Would respect voters' decision to legalize cannabis. (2026-03-20) source
- Would raise the minimum wage. (2026-09) source
- Wants more transparency and regulation for data centers and fewer incentives. (2026-05) source
Vivek Ramaswamy (R)
- Calls abortion murder and says the issue belongs to the states. (2023-04-30) source
- Says the right to bear arms is not negotiable. (2023-09-07) source
- Supports mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship. (2026-09) source
- Calls the climate agenda a hoax and wants more natural gas and drilling. (2026-06-05) source
- Supports Ohio's vouchers and expanding school choice. (2026-09) source
- Wants to cut property taxes and phase out the state income tax. (2026-02-11) source
- Supports federal marijuana legalization but voted against Ohio's 2023 legalization measure. (2023-11-07) source
- Opposes transgender athletes in girls' sports. (2026-09) source
- Welcomes data centers but wants them to pay their own energy and water costs. (2026-06-05) source
Sources
- 2026 United States gubernatorial elections (Wikipedia)
- 2026 Gubernatorial Race Overview (Brownstein, Sept. 23, 2026)
- Latest governor polls (RealClearPolling)
- 2026 election polls (Political.org)
- Cook Political Report governor ratings
- The Green Papers: 2026 candidates by state
- Amid Ad Uproar, Ohio Governor’s Race Moves From Toss Up to Lean Democrat (Cook Political Report, Oct. 23, 2026)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
- Midterm Elections in Michigan, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
Ratings, candidates and polls last updated October 24, 2026. Ratings are expert forecasts, not results.