Ohio politics? Honestly, it’s a bit of a whirlwind right now. With Governor Mike DeWine finally packing up due to term limits, the seat is wide open, and the people currently vying for it are... well, they’re definitely keeping things interesting. If you’re trying to figure out who is running for Ohio governor, you’ve probably noticed the field has narrowed significantly in just the last few months.
It's basically a two-person showdown at the top, but the paths they took to get here are wild.
The Republican Frontrunner: Vivek Ramaswamy
It’s official: Vivek Ramaswamy is the heavyweight on the Republican side. You probably remember him from the 2024 presidential primaries where he was everywhere, talking fast and leaning hard into "anti-woke" rhetoric. Now, he’s focused entirely on Columbus.
What’s interesting is how quickly the rest of the GOP field cleared out for him. Early on, everyone expected a brutal primary. Names like Attorney General Dave Yost and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted were at the top of every "likely" list. But then the endorsements started rolling in.
Once Donald Trump gave Ramaswamy his blessing, the "inevitable" candidates started looking for the exits.
Dave Yost actually suspended his campaign in May 2025. He basically said the climb to the nomination had become a "vertical cliff" and he didn't want to divide the party. Jon Husted also pivoted; he’s now serving in the U.S. Senate (having been appointed to JD Vance's seat) and is focused on holding that spot in 2026 rather than moving into the governor's mansion.
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Ramaswamy's Ticket
Vivek isn't going at it alone. Just this month, he tapped Rob McColley as his running mate. McColley is the President of the Ohio Senate and has a very solid "Guardian of Small Business" reputation. It's a strategic move—pairing a high-energy "outsider" like Vivek with a guy who knows the gears of the statehouse inside and out.
The Democratic Challenger: Dr. Amy Acton
On the other side of the aisle, things are equally solidified. Dr. Amy Acton is the presumed Democratic nominee. If that name sounds familiar, it's because she was the Director of the Ohio Department of Health during the early, chaotic days of the 2020 pandemic.
She was the one standing next to DeWine every day in those press conferences.
For a while, people wondered if she’d actually pull the trigger on a run. She’s faced a lot of heat from the far right over her pandemic-era mandates, but among Democrats, she’s a bit of a hero. She officially announced her campaign and hasn't really faced a major primary challenge since Tim Ryan (the former Congressman) ruled out a run back in November 2025.
The "Dr. Pepper" Ticket
In a move that already has people making soda jokes, Acton picked David Pepper as her lieutenant governor candidate. Pepper is the former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party and a massive critic of how the state’s current leadership handles everything from corruption to gerrymandering.
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They’re branding themselves as the "outsider" ticket—which is funny considering they’ve both been in the mix for years—but they’re focusing heavily on "affordability." They’ve been doing roundtables lately talking about the cost of childcare, medical debt, and housing.
Are there any other candidates?
While the big two are sucking up all the oxygen, they aren't the only names on the ballot for the May 5, 2026 primary.
On the GOP side, you’ve got:
- Heather Hill: A business owner and former school board president from Morgan County. Her running mate is Stuart Moats, who... surprisingly... is a reality TV star.
- Casey Putsch: An automotive entrepreneur from the Toledo area. He’s got a decent social media following and is running as a bit of a disruptor.
- Philip Funderburg: An insurance agent also vying for the Republican spot.
For the Independents or third parties, Tim Grady has filed to run with no party affiliation. Usually, these campaigns struggle to get traction in Ohio’s heavily polarized environment, but they’re in the mix nonetheless.
Why this race is different this time
Ohio has shifted. We used to be the ultimate "swing state," but lately, it’s felt pretty red. However, the polling is surprisingly tight.
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An Emerson College poll from late 2025 showed Ramaswamy up by about 10 points initially, but a more recent December poll had Acton leading by a single point. That’s within the margin of error, which means this could actually be a fight.
The big issues? It’s not just the usual "economy" talk.
- Corruption: Following the FirstEnergy/House Bill 6 scandal, David Pepper has made "cleaning up Columbus" a central theme of the Acton campaign.
- The Trump Factor: Vivek is essentially the "Trump candidate." Whether that helps or hurts in a general election in Ohio remains the million-dollar question.
- Abortion and Healthcare: Given Ohio's recent history with reproductive rights ballot measures, Acton is leaning hard into her background as a doctor.
What you should do next
If you're an Ohio voter, the primary is on May 5, 2026. That feels far away, but the registration deadlines will sneak up on you.
- Check your registration: Use the Ohio Secretary of State website to make sure you're still active, especially if you haven't voted in a couple of years.
- Watch the debates: Now that the running mates are set, expect the first televised debates to start popping up by late February.
- Follow the money: Ohio governor races are becoming incredibly expensive. Keep an eye on the campaign finance reports that come out in early spring; they usually tell you who the national donors are actually betting on.
The race is basically a clash of two very different Ohios: the "MAGA-aligned" business disruption of Ramaswamy versus the "public health and policy" approach of Acton. It’s going to be a long, loud year.
Practical Next Steps:
- Verify your polling location before the spring primary, as several districts have seen boundary shifts.
- Research the lieutenant governor candidates specifically; in Ohio, the LG actually has significant influence over state agencies and the governor's policy agenda.
- Monitor the "Issue 1" legacy: Both candidates are tailoring their messaging based on how their respective parties handled recent constitutional amendments in the state.