Campaign promises and voters' finances
Ramaswamy made accountability part of his appeal for support: "Today: vote for lower property taxes, lower electric bills, more affordable homes, and safer streets. Starting tomorrow: hold me accountable for it," he said in a recent statement.
After voting in Columbus, the former presidential candidate told reporters that families wanted opportunities to improve their finances, not simply cover their expenses. "It is a tough time. There's no doubt about it," he said, adding, "People are looking not just to make ends meet, but get ahead… This election, especially for the role of governor, just comes down to who's going to allow your family to live a better life."
He urged voters to demand that every candidate, including him, follow through on campaign commitments.
Acton, Ohio's former state health director, cast her ballot in Columbus as well. She was optimistic about turnout and described a sense of hope among voters. In her view, the election would test integrity and compassion in public service.
The candidates seeking an open seat
DeWine, a Republican, cannot run for a third consecutive term, leaving the governorship open. Ramaswamy's running mate is Ohio Senate President Rob McColley. Acton is running with David Pepper, who chaired the Ohio Democratic Party from 2015 to 2020.
The ballot also includes Libertarian Don Kissick and his running mate, James Mills. A television station operator, Kissick was previously his party's nominee for Ohio's 5th congressional district in 2018 and for the U.S. Senate in 2024.
Either major-party nominee would mark a historical first if elected. Ramaswamy would be Ohio's first Indian American governor and the first Hindu governor in the United States. Acton would be the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the state's first Jewish governor.
Acton led in pre-election polling averages
An average of five polling aggregators, using updates from November 1–2, put Acton at 49.2% and Ramaswamy at 45.1%, a lead of about 4.1 percentage points. The five were 270toWin, Decision Desk HQ, FiftyPlusOne, RealClearPolitics and Silver Bulletin.
Several forecasters also favored Acton ahead of the vote. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report classified the contest as "Lean Democrat (flip)" on October 29. Decision Desk HQ, Fox News, NBC News and Sabato's Crystal Ball gave it Lean D ratings, while RealClearPolitics considered it a tossup.
Campaign finance reports showed Ramaswamy had raised about $43.2 million and spent about $79.5 million as of October 14, according to the Ohio Secretary of State. Acton's reported fundraising was about $37.7 million, with spending of about $34.0 million.
From the primaries to the next term
Ramaswamy secured the Republican nomination in the May 5, 2026 primary, receiving 676,562 votes, or 82.4%. His opponent, Casey Putsch, received 144,184 votes, or 17.6%. Acton had no opponent in the Democratic primary and drew 767,360 votes.
The winner of the general election is scheduled to take office on January 11, 2027.
