By Nick Evans
Ohio Capital Journal
COLUMBUS — Democrat Dr. Amy Acton has won Ohio’s race for governor according to unofficial election results. The Associated Press called the race at 10:49 p.m.
Acton’s win marks the first time in 20 years that Ohio voters have selected a Democrat to lead the state. The political newcomer will likely have her work cut out for her. Despite a broadly positive night for her party, Acton will still be working with a Republican-controlled legislature.
Acton declares victory
Tuesday night was a good night for Democrats around the country and Ohio was no exception. In a downtown Columbus ballroom, Acton thanked supporters and told them “Ohio has chosen unity and decency — the healing begins today.”
“This win is for every Ohioan who has longed for public servants again,” she said, “who solve problems instead of making them, and who do not mistake kindness for weakness.”
Acton promised to be a governor for everyone in the state and to work with anyone regardless of party “to make life better for Ohioans.” She committed to making life more affordable, fighting corruption, and helping families get ahead, but she’d need their help to “rebuild and create the Ohio we all dream of.”
Acton will take office in a significantly different state government. Not only did Democrats win the race for governor, they also won the race for secretary of state, and flipped enough seats in the Ohio House to break Republicans’ supermajority.
“As a child, I experienced abuse and neglect, and I could have never imagined going from homeless to being a doctor, Let alone that I would be standing here, the next governor of Ohio.”
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Ramaswamy’s concession
A few blocks away from the Ohio Democrats’ party, the mood among Republicans was more subdued. Young men and women in suits milled around in a state of shock. In the last two election cycles, the party had swept every statewide executive office from treasurer to governor.
But in this year’s race, Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy performed worse than every other member of the statewide ticket.
Robert Sprague, the Republican running for Secretary of State said “This was definitely a national wave,” and that a number good Republicans “were swept away tonight.”
The GOP will have plenty of time to in the weeks and months ahead to parcel out blame and try to pick up the pieces. But speaking to the Republican faithful, Ramaswamy tried to turn the page.
“It was a tough race,” he said. “It was bitter at times in both directions. But the time tomorrow is to hopefully have, through her leadership, bring this state together. And I have hope and confidence that she will do what is required to bring Ohio together.”
Ramaswamy thanked his wife and his parents as well as his running mate Rob McColley and his family.
Still, while Ramaswamy expressed hopes for Acton’s leadership he acknowledged “serious concerns about the future direction of our country.”
“I still believe that in the fullness of time — (there) may be some patience required in that — but in the fullness of time, our state’s best days and our country’s best days will still yet be ahead of us,” Ramaswamy said.
How she got here
Acton rose to statewide prominence at the outset of COVID-19 pandemic. In daily briefings alongside Gov. Mike DeWine, she distinguished herself as a communicator.
While Acton’s tenure as Ohio’s health director tipped her for a future in politics, it was also a source of ammunition for her opponent. Ramaswamy criticized her relentlessly — although not factually — as “Dr. Lockdown.” Gov. Mike DeWine has insisted the decision to close Ohio businesses was his and his alone.
Acton’s campaign didn’t get bogged down re-litigating the pandemic. Instead, she stayed focused on issues of affordability. Acton promised a “working families tax cut,” pairing a new earned income credit with a child tax credit. She committed to bringing down utility costs and starting a program to forgive medical debt.
Acton also called for a gas tax holiday a few hours before Ramaswamy embraced the idea.
The ad
In the closing weeks of the campaign, it appeared Acton might be on track to win the race as voters nationally soured on Republican leadership. But then an advertisement started circulating online, featuring Acton’s estranged mother Donna Arthur calling her a liar. Within hours, Ramaswamy’s campaign went from issuing a statement that didn’t deny they made the ad to acknowledging it was theirs.
The ad drew widespread condemnation and seems to have irreparably damaged Ramaswamy’ campaign.
Arthur sided with her husband and Acton’s stepfather, Cledith Arthur, when Acton accused him of raping her as a child. Cledith had already faced accusations of incest and pedophilia from a prior marriage. After a Mahoning County grand jury indicted Cledith in the case involving Acton, he and Donna skipped bail and fled the state. Acton said the last time she saw her mother was at the courthouse nearly 50 years ago.
Ramaswamy stood by the ad. He insisted Acton had lied about him, and “that deserves to be corrected.” Vice President JD Vance defended it, too, admonishing GOP critics to “quit whining.”
Speaking in Bexley Tuesday morning after she cast her ballot, Acton criticized Ramaswamy for running the ad. But she refused to credit it with putting her over the top.
“We were by all indications inching out ahead all along,” she said, noting her polling advantage with independents and the number of GOP voters who told her they were supporting her.
“It’s what we’ve seen on the ground,” she said. “It just hasn’t known party.”
“I do know and believe that my opponent crossed the line,” she added. “Five living governors on both sides denounced what he did. I have felt all along that there’s no low he won’t go to. I think he is out of touch. He’s out for himself, and I’ve always felt he was a danger to our state.”
