Amy Acton wins Ohio governorship, becoming first woman in the role

Ohio voters chose Democrat Dr. Amy Acton as their next governor, according to unofficial results and the Associated Press. She becomes the first woman to hold the state's top executive office and the first Democratic winner in twenty years.

Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in a contest that saw both candidates raise more money than any previous gubernatorial contenders in Ohio history. Her campaign emphasized affordability and bipartisanship, with a specific focus on lowering the cost of living for residents.

She will serve alongside David Pepper, an attorney and former party chair who is her running mate. Pepper stated he intends to focus on reducing costs and addressing corruption within state government.

The victory grants Acton a level of administrative control not seen by a Democrat since 2006. She will be the first Democratic governor since that election to appoint all cabinet positions, though she will face a legislature controlled by Republicans.

The race gained national attention after Ramaswamy aired an advertisement featuring Acton's estranged biological mother. The video showed the mother calling Acton a liar. Court documents and reporting indicate Acton was removed from her mother's care when her stepfather was charged with raping her as a child. The couple later fled the state to avoid trial and never saw Acton again.

Acton is also the state's first Jewish governor. She had led in polls for months before the election. The Associated Press called the race based on the final count of ballots.