Acton Leads Ohio Governor Race as Precinct Returns Narrow Margin
Democrat Amy Acton led Republican Vivek Ramaswamy with 52.1% as precinct tabulations began, while the Associated Press declared Joyce Beatty won reelection.
Democratic nominee Dr. Amy Acton and Republican nominee Vivek Ramaswamy in campaign appearances leading up to the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election.
Credit: NBC4 WCMH-TV Image source
Democrat Amy Acton built an early lead in the race for Ohio’s governorship over Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy in partial results from early voting. With 3,111 of 8,834 precincts reporting, Acton led the governor’s contest with 52.1% of the statewide vote. The Scioto Valley Guardian reported that it has not projected a winner in the race.
According to Secretary of State tallies reported by the Dayton Daily News, Acton led Ramaswamy by 64.4% to 33.4% with about 1.2 million early votes counted as of 8 p.m. Libertarian candidate Don Kissick received 2.2% of that initial share. The margin narrowed as Election Day in-person precinct votes were added to early-vote totals. The candidates are running to replace two-term Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who terms out of office in January.
In the U.S. Senate race, Brown led statewide with 50.2% in the same precinct count. Brown is facing Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted in a competitive Senate race.
The Associated Press called the race for U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, declaring the Democrat won reelection to her Columbus-area congressional district.
On State Issue 3 to require voters to present photo identification to vote, the Guardian reported the measure leading by 25.6 percentage points with 28% of precincts reporting. No projection or official call has been made on the constitutional amendment.
In the attorney general contest, Democrat John Kulewicz led statewide with 50.3%. Republican Frank LaRose led the statewide count with 50.7% for state auditor. In the secretary of state contest, Democrat Allison Russo led the statewide tally with 50.3%. Democrat Seth Walsh led statewide with 50.6% for state treasurer. In two Ohio Supreme Court contests, Democrats Marilyn Zayas led with 50.9% and Jennifer Brunner led with 51.4%. The Guardian reported those down-ballot statewide tallies at 9:21 p.m. without precinct counts.
In a memo before polls closed at 7:30 p.m., Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose reminded Ohioans that counting ballots is a process. LaRose emphasized that Ohioans can have confidence in the process and noted that bipartisan election officials carefully review results and account for every eligible ballot before final certification. County election records emphasize that results are unofficial.
Central Ohio tabulations for Columbus Issues 8 and 9 regarding city council representation and Franklin County tax levies were not yet available as of the 9:26 p.m. sweep.
Previously, Pique Media reported that by afternoon Franklin County voter turnout reached 45.18%, examined whether Ohio voters would enshrine voter photo ID in the state constitution, and reported nearly 1.2 million early ballots cast ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (4)
Democrat Amy Acton built an early lead in the race for Ohio’s governorship over Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy in partial results from early voting.
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Partial results from early voting show Democrat Amy Acton holds an early lead in the race for Ohio’s governorship over her Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy.
According to Secretary of State tallies reported by the Dayton Daily News, Acton led Ramaswamy by 64.4% to 33.4% with about 1.2 million early votes counted as of 8 p.m.
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As of 8 p.m., with only a portion of early votes counted, Acton led Ramaswamy by a ratio of 64.4% to 33.4% with about 1.2 million votes counted, according to tallies from the Ohio Secretary of State.
Libertarian candidate Don Kissick received 2.2% of that initial share.
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Don Kissick, a Libertarian candidate, received 2.2% of the earliest share.
The candidates are running to replace two-term Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who terms out of office in January.
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The candidates are vying to replace two-term Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican who terms out of office in January.
Supporting evidence (10)
With 3,111 of 8,834 precincts reporting, Acton led the governor’s contest with 52.1% of the statewide vote.
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Acton led the governor’s race statewide with 52.1% with 3,111 of 8,834 precincts reporting
The Scioto Valley Guardian reported that it has not projected a winner in the race.
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The Scioto Valley Guardian has not projected a winner in either race.
In the U.S. Senate race, Brown led statewide with 50.2% in the same precinct count.
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Brown led the Senate race statewide with 50.2% in the same count.
On State Issue 3 to require voters to present photo identification to vote, the Guardian reported the measure leading by 25.6 percentage points with 28% of precincts reporting.
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State Issue 3, which would require voters to present photo identification to vote, passed in Pike County 78.0% to 22.0%. Based on the Guardian’s analysis of unofficial returns, the measure has passed statewide, leading by 25.6 percentage points with 28% of precincts reporting.
In the attorney general contest, Democrat John Kulewicz led statewide with 50.3%.
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Republican Keith Faber carried the county for attorney general with 69.1% to Democrat John Kulewicz’s 30.9%, while Kulewicz led statewide with 50.3%.
Republican Frank LaRose led the statewide count with 50.7% for state auditor.
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Republican Frank LaRose won Pike County for state auditor with 69.3% over Democrat Annette Blackwell’s 30.7%; LaRose also led the statewide count, with 50.7% of the vote.
In the secretary of state contest, Democrat Allison Russo led the statewide tally with 50.3%.
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In the secretary of state’s race, Republican Robert Sprague carried the county with 65.5%, ahead of Democrat Allison Russo’s 31.4% and Libertarian Tom Pruss’s 3.1%, even as Russo led the statewide tally with 50.3%.
Democrat Seth Walsh led statewide with 50.6% for state treasurer.
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Republican Jay Edwards won Pike County for state treasurer with 68.4% to Democrat Seth Walsh’s 31.6%; Walsh led statewide with 50.6%.
In two Ohio Supreme Court contests, Democrats Marilyn Zayas led with 50.9% and Jennifer Brunner led with 51.4%.
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Pike County backed Republicans in both Ohio Supreme Court races. Daniel Hawkins carried the county with 68.2% over Democrat Marilyn Zayas’s 31.8%, though Zayas led statewide with 50.9%.
In two Ohio Supreme Court contests, Democrats Marilyn Zayas led with 50.9% and Jennifer Brunner led with 51.4%.
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For the second seat, Colleen O’Donnell won the county with 67.1% to Democrat Jennifer Brunner’s 32.9%, while Brunner led statewide with 51.4%.
Supporting evidence (1)
Brown is facing Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted in a competitive Senate race.
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Brown is going up against Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Husted in a competitive Senate race
Supporting evidence (4)
The Associated Press called the race for U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, declaring the Democrat won reelection to her Columbus-area congressional district.
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The Associated Press already called the race for U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, declaring the Democrat won reelection to her Columbus-area congressional district.
In a memo before polls closed at 7:30 p.m., Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose reminded Ohioans that counting ballots is a process.
LaRose emphasized that Ohioans can have confidence in the process and noted that bipartisan election officials carefully review results and account for every eligible ballot before final certification.
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"Ohioans can have confidence that our election process doesn't end when the polls close," said LaRose.
LaRose emphasized that Ohioans can have confidence in the process and noted that bipartisan election officials carefully review results and account for every eligible ballot before final certification.
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"While we pride ourselves on delivering 100% of the unofficial result on Election Night, the work continues for our bipartisan election officials as they carefully review the results, account for every eligible ballot, and conduct additional checks before the election is officially certified.
https://vote.franklincountyohio.gov/elections
Supporting evidence (1)
County election records emphasize that results are unofficial.
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Results are unofficial
By Afternoon Franklin County Voter Turnout Reaches 45.18%
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported that by afternoon Franklin County voter turnout reached 45.18%, examined whether Ohio voters would enshrine voter photo ID in the state constitution, and reported nearly 1.2 million early ballots cast ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Read supporting passage
By Afternoon Franklin County Voter Turnout Reaches 45.18%
Ohio Voters Decide Whether to Enshrine Voter Photo ID in State Constitution
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported that by afternoon Franklin County voter turnout reached 45.18%, examined whether Ohio voters would enshrine voter photo ID in the state constitution, and reported nearly 1.2 million early ballots cast ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Read supporting passage
Ohio Voters Decide Whether to Enshrine Voter Photo ID in State Constitution
Nearly 1.2 Million Ohio Voters Cast Early Ballots Ahead of Nov. 3 Election
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported that by afternoon Franklin County voter turnout reached 45.18%, examined whether Ohio voters would enshrine voter photo ID in the state constitution, and reported nearly 1.2 million early ballots cast ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Read supporting passage
Nearly 1.2 Million Ohio Voters Cast Early Ballots Ahead of Nov. 3 Election