Governor of Ohio
Statewide — all of Ohio
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research
- This is an open seat: Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.[1]
- In the May 5, 2026 primary, Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination with 82.4% of the vote over Casey Putsch, and Amy Acton was unopposed for the Democratic nomination, receiving 767,360 votes. Don Kissick won the Libertarian primary with 97.8% of the vote over a write-in candidate.[1]
- Each nominee runs as a ticket with a lieutenant governor candidate: Ramaswamy with state Senate President Rob McColley, Acton with former Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper, and Kissick with James Mills. These three tickets are the only governor candidates certified for the general-election ballot in the Hamilton County Board of Elections list; other tickets appear only as write-ins.[1][5]
On the ballot · 3 candidates
Issue evidence — side by side
Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.
Protect legal access to abortion
- Vivek Ramaswamy—
- Amy ActonSupports[6]
Campaign issue page says she would protect access to abortion care as governor.
- Don Kissick—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
- Vivek RamaswamyIn their own words[10]
“Phase out the state income tax—starting with eliminating capital gains taxes—so every Ohioan keeps more of what they earn.”
On his campaign "Plan" page
- Amy Acton—
- Don Kissick—
Faster transition away from fossil fuels
- Vivek RamaswamyIn their own words[10]
“Expand natural gas and deploy innovative energy technologies to strengthen Ohio’s energy supply and reduce electric bills for every family.”
On his campaign "Plan" page
- Amy ActonIn their own words[9]
“I'll lower energy bills for Ohioans by enhancing production and incorporating the lowest-cost and cleanest sources of energy.”
On her campaign issue page "Lowering Energy Costs"
- Don Kissick—
Increase police funding and staffing
- Vivek Ramaswamy—
- Amy ActonSupports[8]
Campaign issue page says she would fully fund local law enforcement.
- Don Kissick—
Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)
Research notes & limits
Running mates are noted in each candidate's ballotNote rather than as separate entries. Ballotpedia was not reachable (it blocks automated requests). The Ohio Secretary of State's own general-election certification page could not be loaded; the slate was checked against the Hamilton County Board of Elections certified list (Sept. 8, 2026) and the Wood County list (certified Aug. 26, 2026), which both print the three tickets (Acton/Pepper, Ramaswamy/McColley, Kissick/Mills) and list other tickets only as write-ins. Write-in tickets (e.g., Timothy Grady, Heather Hill, Renea Turner) are not included. No record items are listed for the two major candidates. No direct source on abortion or guns was found for either major candidate, so those positions are omitted. Little public material was found for Don Kissick beyond a short interview; his campaign site was not reachable. Hamilton County's certified list was re-read on Oct. 19 and matches the three tickets.
Sources · 21
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.2026 Ohio gubernatorial election · Wikipedia Reference
- 2.Vivek Ramaswamy Launches Campaign for Governor · Vivek for Ohio · 2025-02-24 Candidate's own words
- 3.Ohio governor race: Acton releases lots of affordability ideas, but few specifics on funding them · Statehouse News Bureau / WYSU · 2026-04-06 News report
- 4.Acton lands Ohio firefighters endorsement, pitches affordability agenda in governor's race · FOX19 NOW (WXIX) · 2026-08-05 News report
- 5.November 2026 General Election Candidate List (certified) · Hamilton County Board of Elections · 2026-09-08 Official record
- 6.Ensuring Reproductive Freedom · Acton for Governor campaign website Candidate's own words
- 7.Improving Ohio’s Education · Acton for Governor campaign website Candidate's own words
- 8.Building Safer Communities · Acton for Governor campaign website Candidate's own words
- 9.Lowering Energy Costs · Acton for Governor campaign website Candidate's own words
- 10.The Plan · Vivek for Ohio campaign website Candidate's own words
- 11.Vivek Ramaswamy Launches Campaign for Governor · Vivek for Ohio · 2025-02-24 Candidate's own words
- 12.Vivek Ramaswamy · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 13.Vivek Ramaswamy - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 14.Vivek Ramaswamy officially launches bid for Ohio governor in 2026 · Ohio Capital Journal · 2026-10-19 News report
- 15.Amy Acton · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 16.Ohio governor race: Acton releases lots of affordability ideas, but few specifics on funding them · Statehouse News Bureau / WYSU · 2026-04-06 News report
- 17.Acton lands Ohio firefighters endorsement, pitches affordability agenda in governor's race · FOX19 NOW (WXIX) · 2026-08-05 News report
- 18.Dr. Amy Acton, who helped lead Ohio's early pandemic response, joins 2026 governor's race · 13abc (Associated Press) · 2025-01-07 News report
- 19.2026 Ohio gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 20.Libertarian candidates for Ohio governor talk to 2 NEWS · Libertarian Party of Montgomery County (excerpting WDTN) Reference
- 21.About Don and James - Kissick/Mills for Ohio · Kissick/Mills for Ohio · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words