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Ohio governor race
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Ramaswamy lost his lead over Acton in prediction markets as Ohio governor race tightens. The race tests whether Ohio's Republican shift extends to a polarizing open-seat contest.
Background
Ohio's governor race is between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, competing to succeed term-limited GOP Governor Mike DeWine. Polls show a tight race, with recent surveys showing Acton leading or tied. The race has seen heavy spending, attack ads, and a billionaire donor backing Ramaswamy.
How it unfolded
- Aug 22, 2026Ramaswamy spent nearly $700K on private jets for campaign events.
- Aug 24, 2026Ramaswamy declined to answer questions on fracking under state parks, drawing criticism.
- Aug 25, 2026Acton received endorsement from Ohio Patrolmen's Benevolent Association; Ramaswamy campaign criticized her for comparing law enforcement to KKK.
- Aug 26, 2026Acton laid out her vision in one-on-one interview; polls show race tightening.
- Aug 27, 2026A billionaire donor gave more to help Ramaswamy than Acton received from all donors combined.
- Aug 28, 2026Prediction markets show Ramaswamy lost his lead over Acton.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Ramaswamy campaign says he has support from law enforcement because he'll always have their back, unlike Acton who compared them to KKK.
- Analysts
- Analysts note the race is neck-and-neck, with candidates spending millions to get ahead.
- Public
- Acton hopes voters feel she brought the temperature down and united people, contrasting with attack ads.
- Caution
- Some question why anyone would vote for Ramaswamy given his refusal to discuss issues.
Still unverified
Acton's comparison of law enforcement to KKK is mentioned by Ramaswamy's campaign but not confirmed by Acton directly.