Amy Acton Wins Ohio Governor Race to Become State’s First Female Governor
Democrat Amy Acton has won the race to become Ohio’s next governor, according to a race call by The Associated Press reported by NPR. Acton, the state’s former health director, defeated biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican backed by President Trump, marking the first time in two decades that Ohio voters have chosen a Democrat to lead the state.
The campaign finished its final weeks amid heavy political conflict and a high-profile attack ad from the Ramaswamy campaign that drew national criticism, including pushback from fellow Republicans. Acton focused her platform on a background in public health rather than traditional politics, running on proposals that included a statewide child tax credit and medical debt forgiveness.
From Pandemic Briefings to the Statehouse
Outgoing Republican Gov. Mike DeWine originally appointed Acton, now 60, as the Ohio Department of Health director early in his first term. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Acton and DeWine appeared together in regular public briefings to announce lockdowns and safety measures before Acton resigned from the position in June 2020.
Late in October, the gubernatorial contest drew intense national focus when the Ramaswamy campaign released television advertisements featuring Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who labeled Acton a “liar.” Arthur lost custody of Acton when she was 12 over the alleged sexual assault of Acton by Arthur’s husband, Acton’s stepfather. While Trump and Ramaswamy defended the ad, it faced blowback from Republicans, including DeWine.
The Road Ahead in Ohio Government
Acton’s victory breaks a lengthy dry spell for Ohio Democrats, who have faced difficult statewide elections over recent political cycles. When Acton takes office in January, she will face a GOP-majority legislature that’s likely to severely limit her authority.
