Ohio Democrats Claim Governor and Senate Seats in 63-34 Landslide
Amy Acton ends a 16-year Republican hold on the governorship, while Sherrod Brown defeats incumbent Jon Husted to reclaim his Senate seat.
By Alina Campbell ·
Ohio voters rejected both Republican nominees for statewide office on Tuesday, electing Amy Acton as governor and Sherrod Brown to the U.S. Senate. The results mark a decisive shift in power in a state that has trended Republican in recent presidential contests. Acton and Brown both won by wide margins, securing Democratic control of two major levers of state government after years of GOP dominance in Columbus.
Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy to become Ohio's first woman elected governor. With 100% of the expected vote reported Wednesday morning, Acton held 63.11% of the total, while Ramaswamy finished with 34.52%. This victory ends a 16-year Republican streak in the governor's mansion. Acton is also the first Democrat to hold the office in nearly 20 years.
The race was defined by a stark financial disparity between the two campaigns. Ramaswamy and his allied groups spent millions on advertising, including nearly $9 million during a six-week stretch earlier in the election. During that same period, Acton and her supporting groups spent roughly $100,000 on digital advertising. The Associated Press reported that more than $100 million was spent against Acton. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both made high-profile appearances in support of Ramaswamy.
A controversial attack ad by Ramaswamy's campaign featuring Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, became a central issue in the race. The ad challenged Acton's account of her childhood, specifically her claims of suffering abuse and living in a tent. Acton has stated she was removed from her mother's custody at age 12 after suffering sexual abuse by her stepfather. Ramaswamy's campaign planned to spend $4 million airing the ad on television and online before pulling it from circulation shortly before Election Day.
Public reaction to the ad was largely negative across party lines. Republican Governor Mike DeWine publicly condemned the spot. An October YouGov poll found that 55% of registered voters disapproved of the ad after hearing a basic description. That disapproval rating rose to 64% when respondents learned the context of Acton's separation from her mother. The backlash contributed to a campaign environment where Ramaswamy faced growing criticism despite heavy spending.
In the U.S. Senate race, Sherrod Brown defeated incumbent Jon Husted. Brown received 60.51% of the vote, compared to 35.17% for Husted. Libertarian candidate William Redpath received 2.13%, and independent candidate Greg Levy received 2.18%. Brown previously represented Ohio in the Senate for 18 years before losing his reelection bid to Bernie Moreno in 2024. Husted had been appointed to the seat after JD Vance left to become vice president.
The dual victories provide Democrats with a strategic foothold in the state legislature and executive branch. Republicans entered the election cycle with control of the U.S. Senate, and Democrats needed multiple wins to alter the balance of power in the chamber. Ohio was widely viewed as a pivotal state in that effort. The results confirm that national spending and high-profile endorsements did not overcome the local dynamics favoring the Democratic nominees.
