Amy Acton (D), Vivek Ramaswamy (R), and Don Kissick (L) are running in the general election for governor of Ohio on Nov. 3. Incumbent Mike DeWine (R) is term-limited.
Ohio voters last elected a Democratic governor in 2006 when Ted Strickland (D) defeated J. Kenneth Blackwell (R) 61%-37%. Ohio voted for President Donald Trump (R) in 2016, 2020, and 2024. The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates the race a Toss-up, while Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball rate it Tilt Republican and Lean Republican, respectively.
The New York Times' Campbell Robertson and Jessica Contrera write, "While Dr. Acton is fighting the state’s rightward lean, Mr. Ramaswamy is facing a more acute problem: representing the party in power before a broadly unhappy electorate." They add, "Ramaswamy ... captures one element of voter rage: He’s a billionaire who made his mint off pharmaceuticals, finance and technology. But ... Dr. Acton, carries her own baggage in an environment where trust is in short supply: She guided state Covid policy in the opening months of the pandemic." As of September 22, 2026, RealClear Polling's average polling for the race was Acton with 47.5% of the vote and Ramaswamy with 46.5%.
