Democrat Amy Acton has won Ohio’s race for governor, defeating Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, NBC News projects.The race became hostile in its closing days after Ramaswamy’s campaign produced and aired an attack ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother.Acton, 60, is the first woman to be elected governor of the state.Former Lt.
Gov.Nancy Hollister served as governor for 11 days in 1999 after Republican Gov.
George Voinovich moved on to the Senate.She is also the first Democrat to win Ohio’s governorship since Ted Strickland won a single four-year term in 2006.Since then, the state has moved decisively to the right, and it backed Donald Trump by comfortable margins in three straight presidential elections.Ramaswamy, 41, lost despite an endorsement from Trump and having top strategists from his and Vice President JD Vance’s political teams advising him and an aligned super PAC.“Tonight, Ohio has chosen unity and decency over division and hate,” Acton said in a statement.
“Ohio is ready for a Governor who will fight to lower costs, take on corruption, and build a state where everyone gets a fair shot.Regardless of who you voted for, I will be a governor for all Ohioans.
This isn’t about party; it’s about building a better future for our state.”Trump campaigns for Ramaswamy last month in Youngstown.Alex Wong / Getty Acton will succeed term-limited Gov.Mike DeWine, a Republican whom she served under as health director during the early days of the Covid pandemic.Acton and Ramaswamy found themselves in an increasingly expensive and acrimonious fight as polls showed Democrats with a strong chance of winning Ohio’s governorship for the first time in 20 years.
Neither candidate has held elected office, though Ramaswamy made an unsuccessful bid against Trump for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024.Down the stretch, Acton refused to debate Ramaswamy, with her campaign manager saying she had no interest in “platforming a scam artist.”T...