{"id":1672,"date":"2026-01-29T17:32:04","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T17:32:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/?p=1672"},"modified":"2026-03-22T03:00:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T03:00:57","slug":"ohio-governors-race-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/29\/ohio-governors-race-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio Governor&#8217;s Race 2026: Dr. Amy Acton or Vivek Ramaswamy \u2014 What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1672\" class=\"elementor elementor-1672\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c30f85 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"1c30f85\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bdccb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5bdccb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are heading into a <\/span><b>big election year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the Ohio Governor&#8217;s Race 2026 is already heating up. The governor\u2019s office matters because it affects how we <\/span><b>live, learn, work, and take care of each other<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Right now, the major battle is between two very different candidates with very different ideas about Ohio\u2019s future: <\/span><b>Dr. Amy Acton<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Vivek Ramaswamy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ea72e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8ea72e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Who\u2019s Running and What They Stand For \u2014 In Real Talk<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abb3308 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"abb3308\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b4f853 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0b4f853\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Democrat-Icon-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-1691\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd72231 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd72231\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Dr. Amy <\/b><b>Acton,\u00a0<\/b><b>Fighting for Everyday <\/b><b>People<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-314994d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"314994d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Acton is a doctor from Youngstown who once ran Ohio\u2019s health department. She became a public face during the early days of the COVID pandemic, talking to Ohioans daily and helping guide decisions about health and safety. After that experience, she decided to run for governor because she says Ohio is heading in the wrong direction and <\/span><b>everyday people are hurting<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><h4><strong>Here\u2019s what she\u2019s talking about for 2026<\/strong><\/h4><h4><strong>(Visit her website: <a href=\"https:\/\/actonforgovernor.com\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. Amy Acton for Governor<\/a>):<\/strong><\/h4><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lowering everyday costs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 gas, groceries, rent \u2014 so people aren\u2019t drowning trying to get by.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Funding public schools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so every kid gets a fair shot, no matter where they live or how much money their family has.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Strong healthcare access<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 making health a real priority, not just a political talking point.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Putting people first, not power players<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 cleaning up special interest influence in politics and investing in working families.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aac614d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aac614d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Acton\u2019s message connects with people who want leaders who <b>listen, understand community struggles, and focus on real-life problems<\/b> instead of just headlines.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e13cddd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"e13cddd\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ce9a0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9ce9a0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Republican-Icon-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail wp-image-1690\" alt=\"Repulican Icon\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa32a9f elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"aa32a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Vivek Ramaswamy,\u00a0<\/b><b>Business and \u201cShake Things Up\u201d Energy<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f930732 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f930732\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vivek Ramaswamy didn\u2019t come from politics before this campaign. He\u2019s a biotech entrepreneur and made money in business before launching his political path. He\u2019s got big endorsements and plenty of campaign funding behind him.<\/span><\/p><h4><strong>Here\u2019s what Ramaswamy is talking about for 2026 <\/strong><\/h4><h4><strong>(Visit his website:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/vivekforohio.com\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor<\/a>):<\/strong><\/h4><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Smaller government and lower taxes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 shrinking government helps everyone and lets people keep more of what they earn.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Education \u201creform\u201d and school choice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 parents have more control over where their kids learn, with new standards and AI integration in classrooms.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Economic growth and business focus<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 Ohio should be the best state for businesses to start and thrive, which he believes leads to jobs and opportunity.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Criticizes past policies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 he blames pandemic policies and Democratic leadership for problems in education and economic inequality.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c32d30b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c32d30b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ramaswamy\u2019s message appeals to people who want <b>big change, less government interference, and a business-first approach<\/b> to Ohio\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b51e7b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1b51e7b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What This Means for You<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7aade64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7aade64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you\u2019ve learned about the candidates and what they stand for, here are your next steps. Use<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ohiounity.org<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as a resource to stay informed and get involved:<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-248884f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"248884f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Step 1: Check Your Voter Registration<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d423fb4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d423fb4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure you\u2019re registered to vote in Ohio. If you\u2019ve moved, changed your name, or never registered before, take a few minutes to get it done so you can participate in both the primary and general elections. You can check and register here: Ohio Voter Registration.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85c58c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"85c58c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Step 2: Know the Key Dates<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75dc6bf e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"75dc6bf\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-841adae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"841adae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><b>Primary Election:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> May 5, 2026<\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Registration deadline:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> April 6, 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Early\/absentee voting:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> April 7 \u2013 May 3, 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h5><b>General Election:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> November 3, 2026<\/span><\/h5>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Registration deadline:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> October 5, 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-745230d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"745230d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"251\" src=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Calendar-300x251.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-1700\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Calendar-300x251.png 300w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Calendar-768x644.png 768w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Calendar-700x587.png 700w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Calendar-500x419.png 500w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Calendar-600x500.png 600w, https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Calendar.png 940w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9d93cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e9d93cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Step 3: Plan How You\u2019ll Vote<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d69cbb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d69cbb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decide if you\u2019ll vote in person, take advantage of early voting, or request an absentee ballot. Planning ahead helps make sure your voice is counted.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b01dba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3b01dba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Step 4: Get Your Community Involved<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f74b094 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f74b094\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Talk to friends, classmates, neighbors, and family about the election. Encourage them to <\/span><b>check registration, learn about the issues, and show up to vote<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Your voice matters \u2014 and so does theirs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These candidates are offering very different visions. <\/span><b>Acton focuses on making life easier for families and communities first<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 jobs, schools, healthcare \u2014 grounded in everyday struggles. <\/span><b>Ramaswamy focuses on reforming systems through business-style thinking, choice, and smaller government.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7c699c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"f7c699c\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c8629f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c8629f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><strong>This election isn\u2019t just about party labels \u2014 it\u2019s about who stands with working people, who understands the grind, and whose ideas will shape the Ohio you live in for the next four years.<\/strong><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f2e8bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1f2e8bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pay attention, talk with your community, ask questions, and stay informed. <\/span><b>Show up, make your voice heard, and help shape the future of Ohio.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We are heading into a big election year, and the Ohio Governor&#8217;s Race 2026 is already heating up. The governor\u2019s office matters because it affects how we live, learn, work, and take care of each other. Right now, the major battle is between two very different candidates with very different ideas about Ohio\u2019s future: Dr. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[38],"class_list":["post-1672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-voting","tag-ohio-governors-race-2026"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1672"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1803,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1672\/revisions\/1803"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ohiounity.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}