Ramaswamy Trails in Ohio Governor Race as Polls Show Democrat Ahead

With just weeks until the November 3 midterm elections, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is facing an uphill battle in the Ohio governor's race. Recent polls show Democrat Amy Acton, the state's former COVID-19 health director, holding a lead in a state that hasn't elected a Democratic governor since 2006.

The last Democrat to win Ohio's governorship was Ted Strickland in 2006, who defeated Republican Ken Blackwell by nearly 24 percentage points. That victory came amid President George W. Bush's declining popularity and opposition to the Iraq War.

Ohio has shifted dramatically since then. The state backed Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024, with Trump winning comfortably in the last election. Yet the 2026 governor's race is proving far more competitive than expected.

What do the latest polls show?

A New York Times and Siena University poll released October 4 showed Acton leading Ramaswamy 49 percent to 45 percent among likely voters. A USA TODAY Network Ohio and Suffolk University poll from October 2 gave Acton a nine-point lead, 50 percent to 41 percent. A Marist poll released September 29 also showed Acton ahead, 50 percent to 44 percent.

Republicans have questioned the reliability of these surveys, noting that Democratic candidates have sometimes polled better than they performed on Election Day. Still, the results suggest Ramaswamy has not established a clear lead in a state where Republicans have dominated statewide politics in recent years.

What are Ramaswamy's plans for Ohio?

Ramaswamy has focused his campaign on taxes, healthcare, education, jobs, and crime. In a June 27 post on X, the entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate outlined what he called the “10 Things I'll Do for Ohio” if elected governor.

His promises include slashing property taxes, abolishing the state income tax, cutting electric bills, prosecuting Medicaid fraud, raising school standards, reducing healthcare costs, bringing high-paying jobs back to Ohio, putting human traffickers in prison, teaching children pride in Ohio and the US, and cracking down on crime in Ohio's cities. He wrote that these changes are “Coming in 2027.”

How is Trump's approval rating affecting the race?

Ramaswamy's struggles reflect a broader political environment facing Republicans. Trump's approval ratings have fallen amid concerns about the economy, inflation, gasoline prices, and the ongoing war with Iran.

The USA TODAY Network Ohio and Suffolk University poll found that 54 percent of respondents believed Ohio was on the “wrong track.” About 76 percent rated the state's economy as fair or poor, while Trump's job approval stood at 35 percent.

A Marist poll from September 29 found that 56 percent of Ohio voters disapproved of Trump's job performance. Meanwhile, 41 percent said their personal finances had worsened over the past year.

The political pressure extends beyond the governor's race. Republican Sen. Jon Husted is also trailing former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in recent polling, with a Marist poll showing Brown leading Husted 52 percent to 44 percent.

What controversies have surrounded Ramaswamy?

Ramaswamy rose to national prominence during the 2024 presidential campaign, where his debate performances and strong support for Trump helped him gain traction within the Republican Party. After ending his campaign, he endorsed Trump and later co-led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Elon Musk. He left that initiative as he prepared to run for governor.

His political profile has also drawn scrutiny. In December 2024, Ramaswamy defended the need for highly skilled foreign workers in the US, writing on X:

“A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers.”

His remarks triggered criticism from immigration hardliners within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.

His wealth and business record have also been questioned. Ramaswamy is a billionaire with a net worth of about $2.3 billion, according to Forbes. He founded Roivant Sciences in 2014, and one subsidiary, Axovant, acquired an Alzheimer's drug candidate for $5 million. The company went public at a multibillion-dollar valuation, but the drug failed a major clinical trial and its stock fell sharply.

His business ties to China also became an issue during the 2024 campaign. Roivant partnered with CITIC Private Equity to establish Sinovant Sciences to develop medicines in China. His campaign argued that his experience doing business in China shaped his tougher stance toward Beijing.

How has his faith and heritage become an issue?

Ramaswamy is a practicing Hindu and the son of Indian immigrants. His religious and family background has increasingly become a target of criticism from some voices on the far right.

At a campaign event in Ohio, one person questioned whether Ramaswamy had sufficiently integrated into American society. Ramaswamy responded by asking the man to name the Ten Commandments. When he could not, Ramaswamy recited them himself, drawing applause from the crowd.

Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati in 1985 to Indian immigrant parents and is a US citizen by birth. His parents were not US citizens when he was born, although they were in the country legally, according to his campaign. Some far-right commentators have used his family background to attack him, calling him an “anchor baby.” White nationalist commentator Nick Fuentes has also attacked Ramaswamy because of his Indian heritage and Hindu faith.

These attacks highlight a difficult position for Ramaswamy. He has positioned himself firmly within the America First movement, while some parts of that movement have promoted views of American identity based on race, religion, or ancestry.

Can Ramaswamy turn the race around?

Republicans remain confident that Ohio's conservative voting history can help Ramaswamy. Vinson Xavier Palathingal, who campaigned for Ramaswamy in Iowa during the 2024 presidential race, said the polls are showing very different results and should not be viewed as definitive.

“Several factors could ultimately work in Vivek's favor,”

he said, pointing to Ohio's Republican voting record and the possibility of strong conservative turnout in a midterm election.

Whether those promises can overcome the current political environment could determine whether Ramaswamy keeps the governor's mansion in Republican hands or Ohio elects its first Democratic governor since 2006.