The 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Ohio. Republican entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Democratic former state health director Amy Acton are the nominees for their respective parties. Republican incumbent governor Mike DeWine is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.
Primary elections were held on May 5, with Ramaswamy defeating minimal opposition for the Republican nomination and Acton running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. If elected, Ramaswamy would become Ohio's first Indian American and billionaire governor and the first Hindu governor in the United States. Acton would be the first woman elected to the office and the state's first Jewish governor.
Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in Ohio since 2006. The winner of the election will be inaugurated on January 11, 2027.
Republican primary
Candidates Nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, founder of Roivant Sciences and candidate for president in 2024 Running mate: Rob McColley, president of the Ohio Senate (2025–present) from the 1st district (2017–present)
Eliminated in primary Casey Putsch, automotive entrepreneur Running mate: Kim Georgeton, Warren County central committee member
Disqualified Heather Hill, business owner, and former president of the Morgan County School Board Running mate: Stuart Moats, business owner and reality TV star
Not on ballot Renea Turner Running mate: Jalen Turner
Withdrawn Matt Mayer, former director of the Buckeye Institute Robert Sprague, Ohio state treasurer (2019–present) (endorsed Ramaswamy, running for secretary of state) Dave Yost, Ohio attorney general (2019–2026) and former Ohio state auditor (2011–2019)
Declined Warren Davidson, U.S. representative from Ohio's 8th congressional district (2016–present) (endorsed Ramaswamy, running for re-election) Jon Husted, U.S. senator (2025–present), former lieutenant governor (2019–2025), and candidate for governor in 2018 (endorsed Ramaswamy, running for U.S. Senate) Frank LaRose, Ohio secretary of state (2019–present) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2024 (endorsed Ramaswamy, running for state auditor) Jim Tressel, lieutenant governor of Ohio (2025–present)
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HeatherHill CaseyPutsch VivekRamaswamy DaveYost Other UndecidedApril 25, 2026 Hill gets disqualifiedBowling Green State University/YouGovApril 7–14, 2026383 (LV)–12%12%76%–December 16, 2025 Putsch declares his candidacyBowling Green State University/YouGovOctober 2–14, 2025287 (RV)–18%–76%–6%–May 16, 2025 Yost withdraws his candidacyBowling Green State University/YouGovApril 18–24, 2025359 (RV)–4%–64%13%19%–Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)April 6–10, 2025500 (LV)± 4.4%1%–71%10%11%8%––75%19%–6%––77%–17%6%February 25, 2025 Ramaswamy declares his candidacyBowling Green State University/YouGovFebruary 14–21, 2025800 (RV)± 4.0%9%–61%24%–9%National Public Affairs (R)February 2–5, 2025602 (RV)± 4.0%––46%18%2%34%WPA Intelligence (R)January 28–30, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%––57%26%6%10%Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)January 26–27, 2025600 (LV)± 4.0%––52%18%3%27%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Amy Acton, former director of the Ohio Department of Health (2019–2020) Running mate: David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party (2015–2020), former Hamilton County commissioner (2007–2011), nominee for state auditor in 2010, and nominee for attorney general in 2014
Withdrawn Jacob Chiara (endorsed Acton)
Declined Sherrod Brown, former U.S. senator (2007–2025) (running for U.S. Senate, endorsed Acton) Shontel Brown, U.S. representative from (2021–present) (running for re-election) Greg Landsman, U.S. representative from (2023–present) (running for re-election) Allison Russo, former minority leader of the Ohio House of Representatives (2022–2025) and nominee for Ohio's 15th congressional district in the 2021 special election (running for Secretary of State) Tim Ryan, former U.S. representative (2003–2023), nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022, and candidate for president in 2020 Emilia Sykes, U.S. representative from (2023–present) (running for re-election)
Endorsements
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AmyActon SherrodBrown TimRyan Other UndecidedNovember 22, 2025 Tim Ryan declines to run for governorBowling Green State University/YouGovOctober 2–14, 2025377 (RV)–50%–41%8%–August 18, 2025 Sherrod Brown announces his candidacy for the U.S. SenateBowling Green State University/YouGovApril 18–24, 2025335 (RV)–20%59%16%14%–52%–38%10%–Bowling Green State University/YouGovFebruary 14–21, 2025335 (RV)± 4.0%20%59%17%–4%46%–45%–9%
Results
Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Don Kissick, television station operator, nominee for Ohio's 5th congressional district in 2018, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024 Running mate: James Mills
Eliminated in primary Travis Jon Vought (write-in) Running mate: Christy Jo Orr
Results
General election On September 2, Ramaswamy accepted invitations to participate in gubernatorial debates hosted by CNN and WLWT and called on Acton to join him. Acton's campaign subsequently declined, citing what it characterized as inaccurate and personal attacks in Ramaswamy's campaign advertising. As a result, no debates between the two major-party nominees have been scheduled.
On September 6, Acton was attacked at a campaign event at the Canfield Fair. An armed individual lunged at her and was apprehended by local authorities. Several campaign volunteers suffered minor injuries. The suspect, Patrick Havas, was charged with "two counts of assault and one count of disorderly conduct." He is the brother of Andrew Havas, a Republican operative and former Franklin County campaign chair for Senator Jon Husted.
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 1, 2026Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsOctober 1, 2026RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 29, 2026Silver Bulletin September 29, 2026
Post-primary endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 5, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handAmy Acton (D)$5,363,780$2,230,781$8,136,282Vivek Ramaswamy (R)$25,435,113$12,568,962$30,742,722Source: Ohio Secretary of State
Polling Aggregate polls Source of pollaggregationDatesadministeredDatesupdatedVivekRamaswamy (R)AmyActon (D)Other/UndecidedMargin270toWinSeptember 16 – October 4, 2026October 4, 202643.8%49.3%6.9%Acton +5.5%Decision Desk HQthrough October 1, 2026October 4, 202643.9%49.4%6.7%Acton +5.5%FiftyPlusOnethrough October 1, 2026October 4, 202645.4%48.3%6.3%Acton +2.9%Race to the WHthrough October 1, 2026October 4, 202644.8%48.6%6.6%Acton +3.8%RealClearPoliticsAugust 6 – October 1, 2026October 4, 202645.5% 48.7%5.8%Acton +3.2%Silver Bulletinthrough September 27, 2026October 4, 202644.8%49.9%5.3%Acton +5.1%Average44.7%49.0%6.3%Acton +4.3%
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error VivekRamaswamy (R) AmyActon (D) Other UndecidedNew York Times/Siena UniversitySeptember 22 – October 1, 2026616 (LV)± 4.5%45%49%–6%YouGovSeptember 18–30, 20263,780 (LV)± 2.5%44%48%1%6%Big Data Poll (R)September 26–27, 2026680 (LV)± 4.0%48%47%5%—46%44%3%7%735 (RV)47%46%7%—45%43%4%8%Marist UniversitySeptember 24–27, 20261,298 (RV)± 3.8%44%50%3%3%Suffolk UniversitySeptember 23–27, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%41%50%3%6%Bowling Green State University/YouGovSeptember 1–10, 20261,000 (LV)± 4.0%45%48%7%–Wedgewood PollsAugust 11–13, 2026800 (LV)± 4.0%46%47% –7%Beacon Research (D)/Shaw & Co. Research (R)August 6–10, 20261,008 (RV)± 3.0%50%48%–2%Tulchin Research (D)July 29 – August 4, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%44%46%5%5%New York Times/Siena UniversityJune 15–28, 2026601 (LV)± 4.7%47%47%–6%Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D)June 14–16, 2026800 (LV)± 3.5%44%47%1%9%Tulchin Research (D)June 2–4, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%44%47%–9%Beacon Research (D)/Shaw & Co. Research (R)May 28 – June 1, 20261,015 (RV)± 3.0%49%50%–1%May 5, 2026 Primary elections are heldBowling Green State University/YouGovApril 7–14, 20261,000 (RV)± 4.5%48%47%5%–Echelon Insights (R)April 3–9, 2026413 (LV)± 5.8%49%44%–7%Quantus Insights (R)March 13–14, 2026809 (LV)± 3.8%45%46%3%6%EMC Research (D)February 10–22, 20261,343 (LV)± 2.7%43%53%–4%Emerson CollegeDecember 6–8, 2025850 (RV)± 3.3%45%46%–9%Data Targeting (R)December 3–8, 2025603 (LV)± 4.0%45%43%–12%Bowling Green State University/YouGovOctober 2–14, 2025800 (RV)± 4.5%50%47%3%–Hart Research (D)September 19–22, 2025800 (LV)± 3.0%45%46%–9%Emerson CollegeAugust 18–19, 20251,000 (RV)± 3.0%49%39%–12%Impact Research (D)July 24–28, 2025800 (LV)± 3.5%47%46%–7%Bowling Green State University/YouGovApril 18–24, 2025800 (RV)± 4.1%50%45%5%–February 25, 2025 Ramaswamy declares his candidacyPublic Policy Polling (D)February 19–20, 2025642 (RV)± 3.9%44%45%–11%
Vivek Ramaswamy vs. Tim Ryan
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error VivekRamaswamy (R) TimRyan (D) Other UndecidedBowling Green State University/YouGovOctober 2–14, 2025800 (RV)± 4.5%49%47%4%–Emerson CollegeAugust 18–19, 20251,000 (RV)± 3.0%49%41%–10%Bowling Green State University/YouGovApril 18–24, 2025800 (RV)± 4.1%51%44%5%–Public Policy Polling (D)February 19–20, 2025642 (RV)± 3.9%48%42%–10%
Dave Yost vs. Amy Acton Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorDaveYost (R)AmyActon (D) Other UndecidedBowling Green State University/YouGovApril 18–24, 2025800 (RV)± 4.1%46%45%9%–
Dave Yost vs. Tim Ryan Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorDaveYost (R)TimRyan (D) Other UndecidedBowling Green State University/YouGovApril 18–24, 2025800 (RV)± 4.1%46%44%10%–
Jim Tressel vs. Amy Acton Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JimTressel (R)AmyActon (D) Other UndecidedBowling Green State University/YouGovApril 18–24, 2025800 (RV)± 4.1%46%44%10%–
Jim Tressel vs. Tim Ryan Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorJimTressel (R)TimRyan (D) Other UndecidedBowling Green State University/YouGovApril 18–24, 2025800 (RV)± 4.1%46%43%11%–
Results
See also 2026 United States gubernatorial elections 2026 Ohio elections
Notes
Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites Amy Acton (D) Timothy Grady (I) Don Kissick (L) Vivek Ramaswamy (R)