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Democrat Amy Acton is projected to win the Ohio governor's race, defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. This marks a significant shift as Acton becomes the first woman elected as governor in Ohio, succeeding term-limited Gov. Mike DeWine. Acton, a former Ohio health director, gained recognition for her role during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to NBC4, Acton and her running mate, former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper, secured victory with 85% of the unofficial vote counted. The Associated Press called the race for Acton at 10:50 p.m. Acton emphasized unity in her victory speech, stating, "Regardless of who you voted for, I will be a governor for all Ohioans."
The campaign drew national attention, particularly after Ramaswamy aired a controversial ad featuring Acton's estranged mother, which led to bipartisan backlash. Acton's mother had left the state with Acton's stepfather, who was indicted for rape when Acton was 12. Acton has not seen her mother since then.
Acton plans to sign three executive orders on her first day in office to tackle corruption, including creating an anti-corruption task force and targeting dark money. She also pledged to implement a tax cut for working families and establish data center guardrails.
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, faced criticism for the ad and his close ties with President Donald Trump. Despite the competitive nature of the race, Acton's victory signifies a shift in Ohio's political landscape, as reported by The Columbus Dispatch.