COLUMBUS, Ohio — Democrat Amy Acton has won election as Ohio’s next governor, the Scioto Valley Guardian projects, defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Tuesday’s general election.
Acton, running with David Pepper, had 50.6% of the vote, or 2,051,961 ballots, to 46.0%, or 1,863,826 ballots, for Ramaswamy and running mate Robert McColley, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State. Libertarian Don Kissick, running with James Mills, had 3.4%, or 135,879 votes. The figures reflected 7,440 of 8,834 precincts, or 84.2%, reporting statewide.
The Guardian projected Acton the winner earlier Tuesday night, when 7,298 of 8,834 precincts, or 83%, had reported and she held a 4.2 percentage-point lead of 165,481 votes, a margin the Guardian’s analysis of unofficial returns determined Ramaswamy could not overcome.
Statewide, 4,074,101 ballots were cast out of 8,018,054 registered voters, for turnout of 50.8%, the Ohio Secretary of State’s unofficial results showed. The secretary of state’s office reported 4,335 outstanding UOCAVA absentee ballots and 28,228 outstanding provisional ballots still to be counted in the official canvass.
In the other marquee statewide race Tuesday, Democrat Sherrod Brown was leading Republican Jon Husted in the contest for the unexpired U.S. Senate term ending Jan. 3, 2029. Brown had 48.4%, or 1,963,806 votes, to 46.7%, or 1,896,748 votes, for Husted, with 84% of precincts reporting and the margin at 1.7 percentage points. The Guardian had not projected a winner in that race.
Elsewhere on the statewide ballot, the Guardian projects voters approved State Issue 3, which requires voters to present photo identification to vote, with yes votes at 66.1%, or 2,631,481, to 33.9%, or 1,348,109, against. In other down-ballot races still without a Guardian projection, Republican Keith Faber led for attorney general, Republican Frank LaRose led for state auditor, Republican Jay Edwards led for state treasurer, Democrat Allison Russo narrowly led for secretary of state, and Republicans Daniel Hawkins and Colleen O’Donnell led in two Ohio Supreme Court races.
In the Scioto Valley Guardian’s coverage area, Ramaswamy carried every county. In Ross County, with all 65 precincts reporting, Ramaswamy had 57.6%, or 14,182 votes, to 38.5%, or 9,468 votes, for Acton and 3.9%, or 952 votes, for Kissick. Turnout there was 54.9%, with 24,858 ballots cast. In Pickaway County, with all 46 precincts in, Ramaswamy led 61.7%, or 13,632 votes, to 34.3%, or 7,569 votes, for Acton and 4.0%, or 882 votes, for Kissick, on turnout of 57.9% and 22,379 ballots cast.
In Fayette County, Ramaswamy had 66.1%, or 5,986 votes, to 29.4%, or 2,666 votes, for Acton and 4.4%, or 401 votes, for Kissick, with all 25 precincts reporting and turnout at 54.5% on 9,213 ballots cast. In Highland County, Ramaswamy led 70.4%, or 7,795 votes, to 25.2%, or 2,789 votes, for Acton and 4.4%, or 490 votes, for Kissick, with just 9 of 31 precincts reporting so far and turnout at 40.9% on 11,091 ballots cast.
In Pike County, where all 22 precincts reported, Ramaswamy won 63.4%, or 5,402 votes, to 33.0%, or 2,811 votes, for Acton and 3.6%, or 307 votes, for Kissick, on turnout of 50.8% and 8,693 ballots cast. In Vinton County, with all 20 precincts in, Ramaswamy had 65.9%, or 2,564 votes, to 29.4%, or 1,144 votes, for Acton and 4.7%, or 184 votes, for Kissick, on turnout of 49.5% and 3,992 ballots cast. In Scioto County, with all 77 precincts reporting, Ramaswamy led 61.2%, or 13,163 votes, to 36.0%, or 7,741 votes, for Acton and 2.8%, or 603 votes, for Kissick, on turnout of 51.0% and 21,782 ballots cast.
Live, county-by-county results for all of Tuesday’s races are available at https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/election-results-2026/.
Results are unofficial until certified by the Ohio Secretary of State. Source: Ohio Secretary of State election night reporting. See the live map: https://sciotovalleyguardian.com/election-results-2026/
