Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio’s governor’s race, ending a 16-year Republican hold on the office. The last Democrat elected governor in Ohio was Ted Strickland, who defeated Republican Ken Blackwell in 2006.
Acton campaigned on affordability and public education. She also tried to present a more moderate profile on some issues, including by opposing policies that allow biological males to compete in women’s sports. Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate and prominent supporter of President Donald Trump, pressed Acton over her record as director of the Ohio Department of Health during the early COVID-19 response in 2020.
Conservatives blamed her for school and business closures and for a decision to delay primary voting by closing polling stations. DeWine defended Acton on the voting decision, saying, “the buck stops with the governor,” and that he had instructed her to proceed.
The projected result gives Ohio a sharp change in executive leadership and puts debates over schools, taxes, universities and the state’s pandemic record at the center of the next administration.
