Ohio Governor Race Odds: Dr. Amy Acton Leads Race

Dylan Wilkerson Sports Betting Expert

8 minute read

Updated on 9/23/26

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Ohio Governor's Race: Ramaswamy vs. Acton

Ohio's 2026 governor's race is competitive, and that was not expected. Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican entrepreneur and 2024 presidential candidate, is facing Amy Acton, a Democrat and former state health director. The election is November 3, 2026.

Ohio voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. In 2022, Republican Governor Mike DeWine won reelection by 25 points. The state has been trending Republican. Ramaswamy should be favored but the polling and prediction markets say otherwise.

The Candidates

Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur who ran for president in 2024. He won the GOP primary and President Donald Trump endorsed his campaign. His running mate is Rob McColley, and Vivek campaigns on promises to lower costs for Ohioans and put more money in their pocket via reduced taxes.

Amy Acton is a physician. She was Ohio's state health director during the COVID pandemic and ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Her running mate is David Pepper and she also wants to lower cost for Ohioans by taking a moderate approach to her campaign.

Polling

A September poll from Bowling Green State University showed Acton leading 48 percent to 45 percent. Earlier polls showed the race closer or with Ramaswamy ahead. Multiple polling aggregates show margins of less than one percentage point. This is a toss-up.

Sixty-two percent of voters think Ramaswamy will win. Only 36 percent think Acton will win. But when asked who they'd vote for, the numbers are much closer. The gap between expected winner and preferred candidate reflects Ohio's Republican lean in recent years.

Favorability Ratings

Acton: 41 percent favorable, 42 percent unfavorable. Ramaswamy: 36 percent favorable, 47 percent unfavorable.

Both candidates have net-negative ratings. Ramaswamy's unfavorable rating is higher. In a close race, these unfavorable ratings matter could determine an election

Prediction Markets

On Polymarket, a prediction market site, Acton has a 58 percent chance of winning. Ramaswamy has 41 percent. This has held steady since late August. Use our Polymarket promo code to start trading on various events.

National Implications

Democrats view Ohio as a key pickup opportunity. Trump's approval ratings are low and there is a real chance Amy Acton could win this race and turn the state blue.

Democratic voter motivation is higher than Republican motivation. 62 percent of Democrats say they're motivated to vote while 29 percent of Republicans say they're motivated. Turnout will matter in these close races and the democrats have the edge here.

Timeline

Voter registration closes October 5. Early voting begins October 6. Election Day is November 3.

Summary

Ohio's governor's race is competitive. Polls show it's a toss-up. Acton leads in most recent polls and faces lower unfavorable ratings for Ramaswamy. Democrats are more motivated to vote than Republicans. An Acton win would signal Ohio remains competitive for Democrats. A Ramaswamy win would confirm the state's Republican stance.

Dylan Wilkerson

Dylan Wilkerson has over 5 years of experience reporting and analyzing the sports betting industry for various sites. His portfolio includes work for SportsHandle and Action Network, in addition to VegasInsider. His favorite sports are the NFL, College Football, The PGA Tour, the LIV Tour, and Cricket. Dylan has a broad and deep understanding of various sports-related topics. More from Dylan Wilkerson