Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton. (Photo: WEWS.)
After the primary election is eliminated, the race to become Ohio’s next governor officially begins. Republican candidate Vivek Ramasawmy will face Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton in an already record-breakingly pricey general election.
Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati businessman and billionaire, celebrated his victory in Columbus with a crowd of supporters.
“I believe we are on the cusp of a new dawn for Ohio,” Ramaswamy said.
He thanked his family, his constituents and his running mate, Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, a legislative leader and attorney from northwest Ohio.
The pair won with more than 82% of the GOP vote, according to unofficial election results posted on the secretary of state’s website. They defeated YouTuber and car designer Casey Putsch.
“I am proud of the most pro-business, pro-freedom, pro-conservative and pro-capitalist governor this state will ever have,” Ramaswamy said.
Ramaswamy advocates lowering taxes, reducing government waste and advocating for greater energy independence. So far, he has raised $50 million in this race, half of which came from himself.
“We are in this because we believe that with the complementary skills that we bring, we are the two people in this state who can work together as a team to lead Ohio back to our true potential, to the top, to put more money in our pockets, lower those costs and provide our children with a world-class education,” Ramaswamy said, referring to McColley.
The Democratic candidate is former state health director Amy Acton of Youngstown, who is running against David Pepper, a former party leader and lawyer from Cincinnati.
“I’m running for governor because the people of this state are struggling. They’re doing everything right. They’re working harder than ever, but there’s no respite. They’re struggling with the costs of everyday life,” Acton said. “And I don’t want to look the other way. We don’t want to look the other way.”
Also at the packed event for supporters, Acton thanked her voters and mentioned the importance of the election. She was unopposed in the primary election.
“It’s time to put working families, Ohio families, first,” she said.
Her platform is affordability in housing and health care, as well as improving public education and supporting diminutive businesses.
“Together we will make Ohio affordable so that we can once again pursue our dreams, so that we can live good lives and be able to age with dignity,” Acton said.
She raised over $10 million through the race.
“Ohioans need someone to fight for them, not self-funded billionaires and special interests,” Acton said.
While Acton and Ramaswamy talk about affordability, they have different ways to achieve it.
Acton wants to fully fund education so schools don’t rely on raising property taxes, and he also proposes a tax cut for working families. She also proposed a fresh system to reduce the costs of prescribing drugs.
“I will fight to protect Medicaid and ensure that everyone in Ohio has access to high-quality, affordable health care,” she said.
Ramaswamy would limit automatic property tax increases and suggest closing what he calls “low-cost” universities, such as Akron, Ky., and CSU, to pay for the income tax cut.
He added that the development of natural gas extraction will make life more affordable.
“We’re lowering our electric bills because we’re producing more energy in Ohio,” he said.
And they say about each of them that the race is really just beginning.
“Now the real destination is November,” Ramaswamy said.
While Ramaswamy and Acton are the favorites, Libertarian Don Kissich, a veteran from northwest Ohio, will also be on the ballot.
He cooperates with the director of the brokerage house, James Mills. They focus on rooting out corruption, which is also what Acton is about.
“This campaign has never been about insiders, political machines or corporate influence. It has been about everyday Ohioans – workers, parents, small business owners, young people who are fighting for their future and citizens who feel unheard by a broken system,” Mills said in a statement via text message.
He congratulated the Ramaswamy and Acton teams and then said his campaign was about giving voice to the people.
“We will continue to build a coalition of people who believe in individual freedom, government accountability, economic opportunity and restoring trust between citizens and their institutions. We will fight for affordable living, transparent government, civil liberties and a future in which Ohio families can thrive without being crushed by corruption, bureaucracy and division,” he added.
What other breeds stood out?
Ohio’s 9th Congressional District
Ohio’s 9th Congressional District saw a highly competitive five-way GOP primary to determine the candidate who will run against longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
The November election will be a rematch between her and former lawyer Derek Merrin.
According to unofficial results, Merrin won with 44% of the vote. Notably, he defeated Ohio House Majority Whip Josh Williams and former ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan.
The 2024 race was extremely close, with a difference of only about 2,000 votes. The change in zoning makes the area redder than before. However, President Donald Trump will not be at the top.
Ohio’s 7th Congressional District
Brian Poindexter, a union steelworker from Cleveland, won a crowded seven-person Democratic primary in Ohio’s 7th Congressional District. According to unofficial results, he won with 37% of the vote, defeating former Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald.
He will be standing in the seat of incumbent and Trump ally, U.S. Rep. Max Miller.
Supreme Court of Ohio
Former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell won the four-way Republican primary this fall and faced Judge Jennifer Brunner. According to unofficial results, she won with 32% of the votes.
If he defeats Brunner, all Republicans will be on the Supreme Court, as it is currently 6-1.
State Treasurer
Although the race initially seemed close, former Rep. Jay Edwards won the Republican nomination over state Sen. Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson. According to unofficial results, he won with 53% of the votes.
He will face Cincinnati Councilman Seth Walsh, who was unopposed in the primary.
Secretary of State
Both parties had two candidates. According to unofficial results, Treasurer Robert Sprague defeated veteran Marcell Strbich, winning 70% of the Republican vote. Former House Minority Leader Allison Russo defeated Dr. Bryan Hambley with a 67% majority.
Tom Pruss, a Libertarian, will also be on the ballot. He ran unopposed in the primary election.
This race will be available to watch in November.
Incumbent parliamentarians
Two incumbent Republican state lawmakers retained their seats, at least in the primary, despite intense campaigning against them.
Former Speaker Jason Stephens of Kitts Hill defeated primary challenger Larry Kidd, and Republican Ron Ferguson, R-Wintersville, defeated former state Sen. Frank Hoagland. According to unofficial results, both meetings were won by a majority of 62%.
State Sen. Andrew Brenner of Delaware lost to former lawmaker Shawn Stevens in his bid to move to the Ohio House of Representatives.
State Rep. Beth Lear, R-Galena, tried to move to the Ohio Senate but was defeated by businessman Ryan Rivers.
State Rep. Jim Hoops, R-Napoleon, also tried to move to the other chamber, but narrowly lost to former lawmaker Craig Riedel.
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This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and are published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication on other news outlets because it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.
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