Amy Acton becomes Ohio's first female governor after $100 million race

Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday evening marked a turning point for local politics as Democrats captured two of the state's highest offices. The Associated Press certified Amy Acton as the winner of the gubernatorial race shortly before 11 p.m. Acton, a former state health director, became the first woman to hold the governorship in Ohio history. She also became the first governor-elect in over a century to have never previously been elected to public office.

Acton defeated tech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy in a contest that observers estimate cost more than $100 million when outside group spending is included. During her victory speech at the Ohio Democratic Party's election night event at a Columbus hotel, Acton focused on unity. "Ohio has chosen unity and decency. The healing begins today," she told the crowd. She pledged to work with all residents to improve their lives.

The campaign featured intense attacks from both sides. Republicans questioned Acton's decisions during the pandemic, while she accused Ramaswamy of being out of touch. In late October, Ramaswamy ran advertisements featuring Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who had lost custody of the family in 1978. Acton said those difficult times made her stronger, while Ramaswamy described the race as "bitter in both directions" in his concession speech.

In a separate race for the U.S. Senate, former Senator Sherrod Brown defeated incumbent Jon Husted. This victory marked Brown's return to the Senate after losing re-election two years ago. The contest was the most expensive in Ohio history, with advertising spending exceeding $500 million. Brown told his supporters that the result sent a clear message that the state was not for sale.

Brown outlined his immediate priorities for Washington, starting with financial transparency for lawmakers. He stated that one of his first actions would be to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. He also campaigned on lowering gas prices by ending the war in Iran and eliminating tariffs. "I do not work for utility companies. I do not work for data centers. I do not work for Wall Street," Brown said.

Incumbent Senator Jon Husted conceded at the Republican watch party headquarters in Columbus. He reflected on the competitive nature of the race, noting that while most of his competitions have gone well, this one did not. Husted wished his opponent well, urging candidates to win with humility and lose with grace. The results concluded a night where Democrats ended a 20 year run of Republican control over the governor's mansion.