Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio's governor's race on Tuesday, Nov. 3, becoming the first Democrat elected Ohio governor in 20 years, the New Republic reported.
The outcome carries weight in Delaware County, where rapid population growth has reshaped the electorate. Political analysts had flagged the county as a bellwether heading into the election, 10TV reported.
University of Cincinnati political science professor David Niven told 10TV that both parties would be watching Delaware County closely. "Folks on both sides of the political aisle are going to be watching Delaware results, and they are going to feel a world a lot better if their party wins Delaware County," Niven said.
Delaware County-specific vote totals were not yet available as of election night. Statewide, with 79.5% of the expected vote counted as of 10:34 p.m. ET, Acton held 1,900,498 votes (50.4%) to Ramaswamy's 1,746,119 (46.3%), American Bazaar reported. Libertarian Don Kissick had 126,561 votes (3.4%).
Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
Amy Acton | D | 1,900,498 | 50.4% |
Vivek Ramaswamy | R | 1,746,119 | 46.3% |
Don Kissick | L | 126,561 | 3.4% |
Source: American Bazaar, citing NBC News/AP data, as of 10:34 p.m. ET on Nov. 3. Results are unofficial.
A shifting Delaware County
Delaware County had been a Republican stronghold for more than a century, last backing a Democratic presidential candidate in 1916, according to 10TV. But U.S. Census Bureau data shows the county's population grew nearly 40% since 2010, and its margins have tightened.
President Donald Trump won Delaware County with 53% in 2024, down from 66% for President George W. Bush in 2004, 10TV reported. In 2023, Delaware County voters backed the reproductive-rights ballot measure known as Issue 1 with 59% of the vote.
Niven told 10TV the county no longer fits the mold of a rural Republican stronghold. "This is not a place that can get by on a rural way of life or a rural way of governing anymore," he said.
What the win means statewide
No Democrat had won Ohio's governor's race since 2006, the Associated Press reported. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine could not run again because of term limits. Both Trump and DeWine had endorsed Ramaswamy, PBS NewsHour reported.
Acton, 60, a physician who served as Ohio's public health director during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, selected David Pepper as her running mate. Ramaswamy, 41, a Cincinnati native and biotech entrepreneur who had never held public office, ran with Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, WLWT reported.
A bitter and expensive campaign
The race drew national attention after Ramaswamy's campaign released an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother. Acton was removed from her mother's custody at age 12 after her stepfather was indicted for raping her, PBS NewsHour reported. DeWine called for the ad to be taken down, and the campaign stopped airing it, American Bazaar reported.
More than $149 million in TV and radio ad spending was spent or reserved in the race as of Nov. 2, with about three-quarters of that on behalf of Ramaswamy, cleveland.com reported. Ramaswamy personally loaned his campaign more than $40 million, according to cleveland.com.
Unofficial results will be updated through the Ohio Secretary of State's live results page. The certified results is expected approximately three weeks after the election.
