The 2026 Ohio governor race: Amy Acton vs. Vivek Ramaswamy

Data centers became a campaign issue, with the candidates offering different plans for their development, utility costs and taxes.^[12] In October, Acton campaigned in rural Washington County and backed a three-year moratorium on permits for new fracking injection wells there.^[13]

The candidates also differed over debates. Ramaswamy accepted invitations from CNN and a Cincinnati television station, while Acton declined to debate him. Her campaign cited inaccurate attack advertisements and said she was focused on talking with Ohioans.^[14]

A confrontation at a county fair drew attention in September. At the Canfield Fair on September 6, Acton's campaign said an armed person lunged at her and injured multiple people.^[15] Later reports said Acton was unharmed and returned to campaigning the next day, vowing to continue as a "fierce warrior."^[16] Patrick Havas, the man accused of charging toward Acton, pleaded not guilty to assault and other charges. A prosecutor said he had been trying to ask Acton questions, while authorities said he had weapons but never brandished them.^[17]

Polls through the fall put Acton ahead. A Bowling Green State University poll in September had her three points up among likely voters,^[4] NBC4 reported a Marist University poll at 50% to 44% and a Suffolk University poll at 50% to 41%,^[18] and an October poll put her seven points ahead.^[5]

In October, Ramaswamy's campaign ran an ad in which Acton's mother, Donna Arthur, who lost custody of her when Acton was 12, called her a "liar."^[7][19] Acton's brother condemned the ad and said Ramaswamy was not fit to lead, Acton said personal attacks were a lifelong pattern for him, and Ramaswamy stood by it.^[6][20] Reports then said Arthur had stayed married to Acton's stepfather after he was charged with sexually abusing Acton as a child, and records showed Arthur had been convicted of animal neglect and a bad-check offense.^[21]

Republicans split over the ad. Rep. Nancy Mace called it the most shameful and offensive ad of the cycle,^[22][23] while Vice President JD Vance told Republicans to "stop whining"^[24] and was accused of amplifying another false claim about Acton.^[25] Trump praised the mother's courage and asked, "Why would you shield somebody from that?"^[19][8] Acton became ActBlue's second-highest fundraiser after the ad, Illinois first lady MK Pritzker gave $500,000 to support her,^[26] and Decision Desk HQ put her chances of winning at 60%.^[5] On October 23 the Cook Political Report moved the race to lean Democrat, saying it had not talked to a Republican source who thought the ad was a good idea,^[27] as Ramaswamy and fellow Republicans set off on a statewide bus tour.^[28] Obama campaigned with Acton and Sherrod Brown, the Democratic Senate candidate, in Cleveland the next day, and Trump planned a rally in Chillicothe on October 28.^[29][30] Trump defended the ad again at the Chillicothe rally.^[31] Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed on October 29 that it was no longer airing it,^[9] and one of Ohio's oldest newspapers broke with its endorsement policy to criticize him.^[32] Acton's inauguration is set for January 11.^[1] Acton, Ohio's first female and first Jewish governor,^[33] said she did not plan to speak with Ramaswamy after the ad,^[34] while DeWine hosted her at the governor's residence as she prepared to take office.^[35]