Politics

Ohio voters pick between Ramaswamy and Acton in $100 million race

The race to succeed term-limited Governor Mike DeWine has drawn bipartisan backlash over a Ramaswamy ad featuring Acton's estranged mother.

Published Nov 3, 2026 · 13:49 UTC2 reports

The short version

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton are competing to succeed term-limited Governor Mike DeWine.[Associated Press · PBS NewsHour]
Campaign spending in the race has topped $100 million.[Associated Press]
A late Ramaswamy ad featuring Acton's estranged mother drew bipartisan backlash. Trump and Vance defended Ramaswamy, while DeWine denounced the ad.[Associated Press]
Ramaswamy said on Thursday that the ad's planned run was over.[PBS NewsHour]

Ramaswamy and Acton are running to succeed term-limited Governor Mike DeWine, who cannot seek reelection because of term-limit rules.[Associated Press · PBS NewsHour]
Spending in the Ohio governor's race topped $100 million.[Associated Press]
In the closing weeks of the race, Ramaswamy aired a 60-second ad featuring Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who called Acton a liar and urged Ohioans not to vote for her.[Associated Press]
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance defended Ramaswamy over the ad, while Republican Governor Mike DeWine denounced it and called for it to be taken down.[Associated Press]
On Thursday, Ramaswamy said that the ad's planned run was over.[PBS NewsHour]

The election result is not reported in these sources, which describe voting as underway.[Associated Press · PBS NewsHour]
Whether the ad's run has actually ended rests on Ramaswamy's Thursday statement, which these sources do not independently confirm.[PBS NewsHour]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.