Columbus (United States): Democrat Amy Acton has defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio governor’s race, ending a 20-year gap for her party in the state and becoming the first woman elected governor of Ohio.

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Acton, a 60-year-old physician and former state health director, overcame a campaign backed by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. She will succeed Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who is barred from seeking another term.

Her victory marks a major breakthrough for Ohio Democrats, who have struggled to regain power as the state shifted towards Republicans during the Trump era.

Acton built her campaign around affordability and access to healthcare, appealing to working- and middle-class voters. She also spoke about her difficult childhood in Ohio, including a period when she experienced homelessness and spent a winter living in a tent.

Campaign dominated by attack ad controversy

The final weeks of the campaign were overshadowed by an attack advertisement featuring Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, urging voters not to support her daughter and accusing her of lying about her past.

The advertisement triggered widespread criticism after details emerged about the family's history. Arthur had been estranged from Acton for nearly five decades and had lost custody of her children after her husband was indicted for raping Acton when she was a child. He pleaded not guilty and fled the state before standing trial.

Ramaswamy defended the advertisement, saying it highlighted what he described as a pattern of deception by Acton. Trump and Vance also defended its use.

However, five former Ohio governors, politicians from both parties, women's groups and hundreds of alumni of Ramaswamy's former Catholic high school criticised the campaign. The advertisement was eventually withdrawn about a week before polling, after roughly a quarter of a planned $4 million advertising campaign had been spent on it.
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Trump, Vance campaign for Ramaswamy

Ramaswamy, a biotech billionaire and former presidential candidate, received strong backing from Trump and Vance, both of whom made repeated campaign visits to Ohio in the final weeks.

His campaign and Republican allies spent more than $100 million in the race. Billionaire Elon Musk also contributed at least $5 million to a political action committee supporting Ramaswamy.

Acton's campaign, meanwhile, sought to portray the wealthy Republican as disconnected from ordinary voters facing rising living costs, fuel prices and the impact of Trump's tariffs.

Ramaswamy's path to the Republican nomination had also exposed divisions within the party. His primary campaign faced a challenge from vehicle designer and YouTube personality Casey 'The Car Guy' Putsch, who secured nearly 18 per cent of the Republican vote despite spending around $130,000. Putsch later announced that he would vote for Acton.
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Acton's public health record came under scrutiny

Acton became one of Ohio's best-known Democrats during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she served as the state's health director and appeared regularly alongside DeWine and then-Lieutenant Governor Husted.

Ramaswamy and his allies criticised her handling of the pandemic, particularly restrictions on schools and businesses, arguing that her decisions had harmed the state.

DeWine, who worked alongside Acton during the early months of the pandemic, defended her record but endorsed Ramaswamy in the governor's race.

Acton now takes office without having previously held an elected position, succeeding DeWine, who is completing his second term.