Amy Acton elected Ohio governor after contentious campaign

Democrat Amy Acton has been projected as the winner of Ohio’s governorship, defeating Republican billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy in a closely fought race.

Acton becomes the first Democrat and the first woman in two decades to win the Ohio governor’s seat. She succeeds term‑limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who had overseen the state’s support for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

The campaign was dominated by voter concerns over the economy and cost of living, but it was also marked by a controversial personal attack ad released by the Ramaswamy campaign. The ad featured Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, claiming her daughter “lied her entire life”. The ad drew criticism from former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Governor DeWine, who called it “deeply troubling”, while President Trump and Vice‑President Vance defended its use.

Ramaswamy said his campaign would spend $4 million to broadcast the ad statewide. Following its release, the editorial board of the Columbus Dispatch endorsed Acton, describing the advertisement as “revolting and unsettling”.

In her acceptance speech, Acton, a physician and former public‑health official, pledged to work with all Ohioans and promised that “the healing begins today”.

Source: BBC News. Photo: Sebastian Angarita / Pexels.