Ohio Governor Candidates Face Tight Polls and Rising Ad Attacks

A shifting polling picture and growing dissatisfaction over economic conditions are intensifying Ohio's 2026 governor's race, where Democrat Amy Acton and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy are competing for voters across a state that has leaned Republican in recent presidential elections. Their campaigns are pursuing different strategies, from personal attacks in advertisements to outreach in rural communities, as Democrats seek to regain statewide support.

A co/efficient poll conducted October 5 and October 6 found Ramaswamy leading Acton 45% to 43% among 925 likely voters, according to Newsweek's October 8 report. Three percent supported a Libertarian candidate, while 8% remained undecided. The poll's margin of error was plus or minus 3.49 percentage points.

Other surveys showed a different picture. A CNN/SSRS poll conducted September 29 through October 5 placed Acton ahead 50% to 42% among 760 likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. The New York Times and Siena University also found Acton leading 49% to 45% in a survey of 616 likely voters conducted September 22 through October 1.

Three additional polls from late September showed Acton ahead by four points in a YouGov survey, nine points in a Suffolk University poll and six points in a Marist University poll. The conflicting results highlight the uncertainty surrounding a contest that could determine whether Democrats end a 20-year drought in Ohio gubernatorial elections.

Ohio last elected a Democratic governor in 2006, when Ted Strickland won the office. President Donald Trump carried the state by 11 percentage points in 2024, after winning by eight points in both 2016 and 2020. Republican candidates also dominate statewide offices and the state Legislature.

Acton, who led the Ohio Department of Health from February 2019 through June 2020, is trying to broaden Democratic appeal beyond urban areas. Her campaign has focused on rural communities where residents have raised concerns about energy development, household expenses and access to health care.

During an appearance in Marietta, Acton supported a three-year moratorium on permits for new injection wells used in fracking operations in Washington County. The proposal addresses concerns about groundwater contamination from industrial waste, with potential cleanup costs estimated at more than $1 billion.

Acton framed water protection as an issue that crosses party lines during the event.

"This is not a partisan issue, that we need to protect our water," Acton told supporters gathered near the Ohio River.

She also warned that the financial consequences of contamination could affect residents across the state.

"We will all pay for this mistake. So that's why we must act now," Acton said.

Susan Vessels, Marietta's city council president and a Republican, joined Acton's appearance and praised her willingness to hear local concerns. Vessels said residents had struggled to persuade elected officials to address the risks associated with fracking.

"It is a pro-drinking water position, and it should be easy for any leader to support," Vessels said.

Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur endorsed by Trump, has advocated expanding domestic energy production, including oil, gas, coal and nuclear power. During a 2024 presidential debate, he called for an expansive energy strategy.

"Unlock American energy. Drill, frack, burn coal, embrace nuclear," Ramaswamy said during the debate.

His campaign has also emphasized economic growth and environmental protection. Campaign manager Jonathan Ewing said voters' frustrations extend beyond traditional party divisions.

"Voters are frustrated, and it's not just with one political party," Ewing said. "They're frustrated by an insider system that they see as working for one connected class of people and not for them."

Ewing described Ramaswamy as an outsider who could challenge that system and said the candidate could not be bought.

"can't be bought," Ewing said.

Economic concerns are also shaping the broader political environment. The CNN poll found that 76% of Ohio voters attributed rising prices to Trump's policies, while 58% said his tariffs had hurt the state, according to Newsweek. Rural residents have also expressed concern about rising fuel and fertilizer costs linked to the war in Iran and reductions in support for rural hospitals.

Acton has sought to capitalize on those concerns while maintaining positions intended to appeal to moderate voters. Her campaign has also proposed a conditional moratorium on new data centers until operators meet requirements involving utility costs, union labor and transparency. Ramaswamy has opposed a blanket moratorium but has supported requirements for data centers to pay full property taxes and provide free electricity to nearby households.

The campaign environment has also drawn criticism over personal attacks. The New York Times described the governor's contest in an October 5 report as among the country's most hostile, citing advertisements that portray Acton as a drunk or emotionally unstable and accuse Ramaswamy of exploiting ordinary Ohioans. The Columbus Dispatch separately reported on October 9 that political advertising spending across Ohio's major races had exceeded $560 million.

According to Medium Buying, Ramaswamy and his supporters had spent $90.49 million on advertising, compared with $28.66 million for Acton's campaign and allies. The spending figures reflect a contest in which both parties are investing heavily while voters weigh economic pressures, environmental concerns and the candidates' competing approaches to state government.