Democrat Amy Acton won the race for Ohio governor over Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, whose campaign had aired an ad starring Acton’s estranged mother.
Story Highlights
- Amy Acton, a doctor and Ohio’s former health director, beat Vivek Ramaswamy for governor.
- She is the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office in 20 years.
- In October, Ramaswamy’s campaign ran a $4 million ad in which Acton’s estranged mother called her a liar.
- Acton’s mother lost custody of her in 1978 and left Ohio with Acton’s stepfather, who had been charged with abusing Acton when she was 12, according to reports.
- Ramaswamy conceded on election night and said Republicans should be “rooting for the success of her administration.”
Acton Wins a State That Has Leaned Republican
Ohio voters chose Amy Acton as their next governor on Tuesday, November 3. News outlets called the race for her that night. She won about 51 percent of the vote in early reported counts, a lead of roughly five to seven points over Ramaswamy. Libertarian Don Kissick drew about 3 percent. Acton will replace Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who could not run again because of term limits.
The result stands out because Ohio has moved to the right. President Trump won the state by 11 points in 2024. Acton is 60 and grew up in Youngstown. She ran the state’s Department of Health early in the COVID-19 pandemic, when DeWine was governor. She drew heavy criticism for the lockdown rules of that time. On the trail, she talked about the cost of living and her own hard childhood, which included a time when her family had no home.
The Ad Featuring Acton’s Mother
The fight that drew the most attention came in October. Ramaswamy’s campaign put out a 60-second ad featuring Donna Arthur, Acton’s mother. In it, Arthur calls her daughter “a liar” who “needs help.” Arthur lost custody of Acton and her brother in 1978. That year, according to reports, she left Ohio with her husband, Acton’s stepfather, who had been charged with raping Acton when she was 12. Acton has said she has not seen her mother since 1978.
Both sides spoke out. Ramaswamy stood by the ad. “The irony is they’re lying about an ad that is about lying,” he said on a bus tour stop. “They’re changing the subject because they don’t want to answer for their own failures.” Acton condemned it. She told a reporter she would not “normalize somebody” who had brushed off her childhood as mere complaining. She has also said her hard times made her stronger.
Republicans Split Over the Spot
The ad divided Republicans. Gov. DeWine said it “exceeds the bounds of human decency.” Former Gov. Bob Taft, also a Republican, urged Ramaswamy to stop running it. By late October, all five living Ohio governors who served full terms, three Republicans and two Democrats, had spoken out against it. Sen. Jon Husted said he would not have run it.
Others backed the campaign. President Trump said he supported the ad, and Vice President JD Vance said he was “disgusted” by Republicans who opposed it. Ramaswamy, 41, is a Cincinnati native and billionaire businessman who ran for president in 2024. He spent far more than Acton, and top Republicans lined up behind him. The race was widely described as an ugly one. Vote totals alone do not show how much the ad changed any one voter’s choice.
What Comes Next in Columbus
Ramaswamy conceded at the Ohio Republican Party’s election night event in Columbus. He called the race “bitter in both directions” and wished Acton well. “We are rooting for the success of this state,” he said. In her victory speech, Acton said, “Ohio has chosen unity and decency.” She promised, “I will be a governor for all Ohioans,” and added, “I will work with anyone and everyone, as I always have.”
Her campaign promises included a child tax credit and a pause on new data centers in Ohio. She has also pledged to protect what she calls reproductive freedom and Ohio’s legal marijuana. She has also said, “I do not support boys playing in girls sports.” Before she takes office, county boards must finish the official count. A canvass is the formal review and tally of every ballot, and the state certifies the winner after it is done.
Sources:
reason.com, cbsnews.com, wvxu.org, fox19.com, npr.org
