Ohio voters weigh Ramaswamy, Acton in key governor race

Polls in Cuyahoga County opened at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the midterm election that will determine which party controls the U.S. House and Senate for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second term. Voters in Cleveland, Parma, Lakewood, Euclid, Strongsville, and Cleveland Heights are casting ballots in a state that holds significant weight in the national race. The election is being described by the Associated Press as a referendum on the president's performance, with many voters expressing frustration over high prices and the ongoing war with Iran.

At the center of the Ohio ballot is the race for governor, an open seat with no incumbent running. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is facing Democratic challenger Amy Acton. This contest is one of the key battlegrounds identified by Ballotpedia, which lists Ohio among the states where the governor's office is up for grabs. The race has drawn national attention, particularly after Ramaswamy's campaign faced backlash over a television advertisement featuring Acton's estranged mother. According to Ballotpedia, the parties on the ballot for the governor's office include the Democratic, Independent, Libertarian, and Republican parties.

Ohio voters are also deciding the special election for the remainder of the six-year U.S. Senate term that Vice President JD Vance was elected to in 2022. Republican incumbent Jon Husted is running against Democratic former Senator Sherrod Brown. Ballotpedia notes that this is a special election, and the winner will begin their term on January 3, 2027. The Associated Press identifies this as a key matchup, noting that the state voted for Trump in 2024 by a margin of 11.2 percent. This race is part of a broader contest for Senate control, where Democrats need a net gain of four seats to achieve a majority in the chamber.

While the governor's race is the primary state-level contest for Cuyahoga County residents, the ballot also includes elections for every U.S. House seat in the state. Ballotpedia confirms that all Ohio congressional districts are on the ballot, along with state and local offices and measures that vary by county. The state is using new congressional maps following mid-decade redistricting, a change that Ballotpedia says could affect how these districts vote. The U.S. Postal Service has added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time, a logistical step that Reuters reports is critical for the accuracy of the final tallies.

The mood in the state reflects the national trend, with the Associated Press reporting that 35 percent of U.S. adults approve of Trump's job performance. In Ohio, voters are weighing these national concerns against local economic pressures. The AP-NORC polling indicates that about seven in ten Americans say the country is heading in the wrong direction, and most blame the president for high prices. This sentiment is driving voter turnout, with more than 57 million people having already voted as of Monday, surpassing the early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states.

In the broader context of the governor's race, Democrats are hoping to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades. Ballotpedia reports that heading into this election, Republicans hold 26 governor's offices and Democrats hold 24. Of the 36 governorships on the ballot nationwide, each party holds 18. If Democrats can flip key states like Ohio, they would achieve a nationwide majority, a milestone they have not held since 2010. The Associated Press notes that the party of the sitting president almost always loses seats in midterm elections, a pattern Republicans have tried to counter with redistricting efforts.

Cuyahoga County voters are also considering Issue 3, a statewide ballot measure that would require photo identification to vote. Ballotpedia lists this as a Legislative Referendum on the Ohio ballot. The measure is being watched closely by election officials and activists who are concerned about how identification rules may affect voter access. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan it says would prevent noncitizen voting, a move that critics argue risks disenfranchising eligible voters and infringes on states' authority over elections.

The election is also a test for the financial strategies of both parties. The Associated Press reports that the 2026 elections are likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees have outraised and outspent Democratic committees at the committee level, aided by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats have outraised their opponents. Analysis of AdImpact data by the AP shows that 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024, including more than $850 million in areas where he won by 10 points or more.

As polls close at 7:30 p.m. in Ohio, the focus turns to the implications for Congress. If Democrats win even one chamber, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who would be the first Black speaker if Democrats take the House, has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight. The results of this election will also have implications for potential 2028 candidates, including Gavin Newsom, JB Pritzker, and Pete Buttigieg, as well as the path for Vice President JD Vance.

In the governor's race specifically, the outcome will determine who leads the state's executive branch for the next four years. Ballotpedia notes that 19 of the 36 governor races have no incumbent on the ballot, including Ohio. This lack of incumbency allows candidates to set their own agendas without the baggage of a predecessor's record. The Associated Press describes the election as a struggle for control, with one or two seats potentially tipping either chamber of Congress. For Cuyahoga County, the vote is a crucial step in deciding the direction of the state and the nation during a period of significant political and economic change.