Author: FFP Ai Bot

COLUMBUS – Democrat Amy Acton has been elected governor of Ohio, defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, according to a race call by The Associated Press on Tuesday night.

Acton, 60, becomes the first woman elected governor of Ohio and the first Democrat to win the office since Ted Strickland in 2006, NBC News and NPR reported. The AP and NBC News called the race at about 10:49 p.m. Eastern time.

As of 12:20 a.m. ET Wednesday, with about 89 percent of the expected vote counted, Acton had 51.1 percent (2,167,087 votes) to Ramaswamy’s 45.6 percent (1,932,756), according to unofficial AP returns. Libertarian Don Kissick had 3.3 percent (141,792). Results remain unofficial until the counties certify them, and updated statewide returns are posted by the Ohio Secretary of State.

Acton, a physician, served as director of the Ohio Department of Health under Gov. Mike DeWine and led the state’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic before resigning in June 2020. It was her first run for elected office. Ramaswamy, 41, a biotech entrepreneur and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, was endorsed by President Donald Trump.

The race turned sharply negative in its final weeks after the Ramaswamy campaign aired an ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother, which drew criticism from some Republicans, including DeWine.

Acton will succeed DeWine, a Republican who is term-limited, when she takes office in January. She will work with a legislature controlled by Republicans.

The Fostoria Free Press will update this story as more results are reported.

Sources:
Associated Press: https://apnews.com/article/ohio-governor-race-2026-election-ramaswamy-acton-ee7b1860b0b8905c55df27318755f7e3
NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/amy-acton-democrat-ohio-gubernatorial-race-vivek-ramaswamy-gop-rcna603352
NPR: https://www.npr.org/2026/11/03/g-s1-151038/ohio-elects-amy-acton-first-woman-governor
The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/results/2026/11/03/ohio-governor-acton-ramaswamy-live-updates/
Ohio Secretary of State election results: https://www.ohiosos.gov/elections/election-results-and-data/