Vivek Ramaswamy has won the Republican primary for governor of Ohio, setting up a closely watched November contest against Democrat Amy Acton. According to The Guardian, the former Republican presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur secured the GOP nomination on Tuesday after defeating Casey Putsch, a YouTube personality and political newcomer.
Ramaswamy, who received support from U.S. President Donald Trump, entered the race with strong national recognition from his 2024 presidential campaign. Trump gave him a late boost on social media before the vote, praising him as young, strong, and smart. Ramaswamy will now face Acton in the general election scheduled for November 3.
Putsch had attempted to challenge Ramaswamy from within the Republican field, including through campaign messaging that targeted Ramaswamy’s South Asian background. However, the effort failed to gain major traction, with Putsch receiving less than 20 percent of the vote. The result gives Ramaswamy a clear path into what is expected to be a much tougher general election campaign.
Acton, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination, is best known for serving as Ohio’s health director during the Covid pandemic. Republicans have criticized her pandemic era role, but outgoing Governor Mike DeWine has previously defended her, saying major decisions were made by his office. DeWine, who is term limited, endorsed Ramaswamy in the Republican primary.
The race is expected to draw national attention because Ohio has leaned Republican in recent statewide contests, but Democrats believe the governor’s office may still be competitive. No Democrat has won the Ohio governorship since Ted Strickland in 2006, yet the Cook Political Report recently shifted the race from likely Republican to lean Republican.
Acton is expected to focus her campaign on affordability, living costs, and her personal story of overcoming poverty, homelessness, and abuse while growing up in Youngstown. Her background creates a sharp contrast with Ramaswamy, who built a fortune through biotech ventures and has been valued by Forbes at about $2.4 billion.
Ramaswamy has promised to make Ohio more affordable by reducing property and income taxes, expanding technology, and pursuing energy reforms aimed at lowering household bills. He has also emphasized parental rights in education and said Ohio students should have access to a strong education regardless of whether they live in major cities, rural areas, or Appalachian communities.
The Ohio primary also delivered another major result, with former Democratic senator Sherrod Brown winning his party’s nomination for a special U.S. Senate election. Brown will face Republican incumbent Jon Husted in November, with the winner set to complete the remaining term originally won by JD Vance in 2022.
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