Ohio politics feels like a fever dream lately. If you've been watching the news, you know the 2026 race to replace Mike DeWine is already moving at a breakneck pace. Everyone is asking the same thing: who is running for governor of Ohio Democratic Party and do they actually have a shot?
Honestly, the Democratic side is currently looking much more streamlined than the crowded Republican field. While the GOP is bracing for a potential showdown involving Vivek Ramaswamy, the Democrats have largely coalesced around a name that became a household staple during the pandemic.
The Frontrunner: Dr. Amy Acton
Dr. Amy Acton isn't your typical career politician. In fact, she’s never held elected office before. Most of us remember her as the calm, steady voice during Governor DeWine’s daily COVID-19 briefings back in 2020. She was the Director of the Ohio Department of Health, and for a while, she was arguably the most popular person in the state.
She resigned from that post after facing intense pressure—and some pretty ugly protests at her home—over lockdown measures. But she didn’t disappear. After a few years of speculation and "will-she-won't-she" rumors, she’s officially in.
Acton is leaning hard into her background as a physician and an "outsider." Her campaign isn't built on backroom Statehouse deals. Instead, she’s talking about affordability and health equity. Just last week, she was in Bexley holding a roundtable at Katalina’s (a local favorite for pancake balls, by the way) talking about the rising cost of living.
The "Dr. Pepper" Ticket
In a move that surprised some but delighted party insiders, Acton recently named her running mate: David Pepper.
Yes, the memes wrote themselves immediately. The "Dr. Pepper" ticket is a strategic play. Pepper is the former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party and a former Hamilton County Commissioner. He’s the "insider" to her "outsider." He knows every donor and every county chair from Toledo to Portsmouth.
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Pepper has spent the last few years as a bit of a democracy firebrand. He wrote Laboratories of Autocracy and has a massive following on Substack where he relentlessly roasts the current Republican leadership. He’s the "bad cop" to Acton’s "good cop." While Acton talks about healing and community, Pepper is there to point out the corruption in the gerrymandered Statehouse.
Are There Other Challengers?
Right now? Not really.
Usually, a race for governor is a magnet for every mayor and congressman in the state. But for the 2026 Democratic primary, the field is remarkably quiet.
- Jacob Chiara: He's technically declared his candidacy, but he lacks the name recognition or the war chest that Acton is already building.
- The "Wait and See" Crowd: For a while, people thought Greg Landsman or Emilia Sykes might jump in. But Landsman is focusing on his congressional seat in Southwest Ohio, and Sykes is doing the same in the Akron area.
- Allison Russo: The former House Minority Leader was a big name on the "potential" list. However, she’s officially announced she is running for Secretary of State instead.
This lack of a primary "bloodbath" is a deliberate strategy. Ohio Democrats are tired of losing. They saw what happened in 2022 when Nan Whaley struggled to get traction against DeWine. By clearing the field for Acton, the party is hoping to save their resources for the general election in November.
Why This Race is Different This Time
Look, Ohio has trended "deep red" for a decade. Trump won the state by double digits in 2024. Most pundits would tell you a Democrat doesn't stand a chance.
But there’s a weird energy in the air.
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Recent polling from Emerson College and Bowling Green State University suggests things are tightening up. One poll had Acton at 46% and Vivek Ramaswamy at 45%. That’s a dead heat.
Why? Because Mike DeWine’s approval ratings have tanked. He’s sitting at around 26% approval according to some surveys. Even Republicans are mad at him for various reasons, and Democrats certainly haven't forgotten the legislative battles over reproductive rights and redistricting.
People are also feeling the "incumbency fatigue." The GOP has controlled the Governor's mansion for most of the last 30 years. Acton is betting that Ohioans are ready for a "change" candidate who isn't a professional politician.
The Hurdles Acton Faces
It won't be a cakewalk. The GOP will bury her in ads about the early pandemic lockdowns. They'll call her "Lockdown Acton" and blame her for school closures.
She also has to prove she can handle the "rough and tumble" of a campaign. Being a popular health director is one thing; being a candidate in a state where the other side has a 10-point baseline advantage is another.
Then there's the money. Ohio is an expensive state to run in. You have to buy ads in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Toledo. It costs millions just to introduce yourself to the voters who don't watch cable news.
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What Ohio Voters are Actually Worried About
If you're wondering who is running for governor of Ohio Democratic Party, you're probably also wondering what they're promising.
- Affordability: This is the big one. Rent is up. Groceries are up. Acton’s roundtables have focused almost exclusively on how the average family is supposed to pay their bills.
- Corruption: Following the House Bill 6 scandal (the largest bribery scheme in Ohio history), voters are skeptical of the Statehouse. David Pepper’s inclusion on the ticket is a signal that they intend to make "cleaning up Columbus" a core theme.
- Education and Healthcare: Acton is naturally strong here. She talks about the "social determinants of health"—basically, if you don't have a good job or a safe house, you aren't going to be healthy.
The Road to May 2026
The primary is on May 5, 2026.
If no one else jumps in, Acton and Pepper will cruise to the nomination. This allows them to spend the spring and summer of 2026 talking to Independent voters in the suburbs of Columbus and Cincinnati. These "swing" voters are the ones who will decide the race.
In 2024, Trump won the state easily, but in 2026, there is no Trump on the ballot (though he'll certainly be tweeting about it). Midterm-style elections usually see a drop-off in turnout, and whichever party is more "fired up" usually wins. Right now, Ohio Democrats are banking on the fact that their base is energized by recent wins on ballot initiatives like reproductive rights.
How to Stay Informed and Get Involved
If you're living in Ohio or just following the race, you've got a few ways to keep tabs on what's happening.
- Check the Secretary of State’s website: The official filing deadline is February 6, 2026. Until that date passes, we won't know the absolute final list of candidates.
- Follow local reporting: Outlets like the Ohio Capital Journal, Signal Ohio, and the Columbus Dispatch are doing the heavy lifting. Avoid the national "hot takes" that treat Ohio like a monolith.
- Verify your registration: Ohio is famous for purging voter rolls. Even if you think you’re registered, check it. You can do this at the "VoteOhio.gov" portal.
The 2026 race is going to be a wild ride. Whether you're a die-hard Democrat or just someone who wants to see the state move in a different direction, knowing the players is the first step. Keep an eye on the "Dr. Pepper" ticket—they're already out there trying to prove that Ohio isn't as red as the pundits think.
To make sure you're ready for the May primary, your best next step is to head over to the Ohio Secretary of State's website and confirm your voter registration status is active. It takes two minutes and ensures your voice actually counts when the polls open. Keep an eye on the February filing deadline too, as that's when the "official" list becomes set in stone.