COLUMBUS, Ohio — A December Emerson College Polling survey shows Ohio’s 2026 governor’s race tightening, even as Gov. Mike DeWine today endorsed Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and his running mate, State Senate President Rob McColley.
The Emerson poll, released Dec. 11, finds Democrat Amy Acton leading Ramaswamy 46% to 45%, with 9% undecided — a shift from August, when Ramaswamy held a 10‑point advantage. According to the survey, Acton has gained seven points since the summer, while Ramaswamy has dropped four.
“The August Emerson College poll found women voters split between Ramaswamy and Acton, 44% to 42%, and men breaking for Ramaswamy 54% to 36%,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in the release. “Four months later, men still support Ramaswamy by about 20 points, 55% to 35%, but women have shifted toward Acton, breaking for her 56% to 37%.”
DeWine’s endorsement of Ramaswamy comes as the GOP candidate faces a more competitive landscape than earlier in the year. In a written statement, DeWine urged Republicans to unite behind the ticket.
“With the election year upon us, I am joining Republicans across Ohio in supporting our dynamic ticket for Governor, led by Vivek Ramaswamy,” DeWine said. He praised Ramaswamy’s business background and called McColley “a strong leader who is well respected by the members of the General Assembly.”
The Emerson findings align with a separate November poll from the 314 Action Fund, which showed Acton holding a double‑digit advantage in net favorability and gaining traction among independent voters.
The economy remains the top issue for Ohio voters at 44%, followed by threats to democracy, healthcare, housing affordability, immigration and education.
The Emerson College Polling survey of 850 active registered voters was conducted Dec. 6–8 and has a credibility interval of ±3.3 percentage points.