The Ohio governor race is in motion: who are the current candidates? – The Cauldron
Next year, Ohio voters will elect a new governor.
The current governor, long-time political figure Republican Mike DeWine, has been serving since 2019 and will be ineligible for another term.
The current candidates for this election include Vivek Ramaswamy with the Republican Party, Amy Acton with the Democratic Party, and the two independent candidates, Timothy Grady and Heather Brazell-Hill.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Source: gettyimages.com
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio with a law degree from Yale Law School, former presidential candidate and biotech CEO Vivek Ramaswamy is one of the most well-known candidates running to be the next governor for Ohio.
He was a candidate for the Republican party in the 2024 presidential election and the youngest in history.
He has been endorsed by the Ohio chapter of the Republican Party and U.S. President Donald Trump. Ramaswamy’s net worth is just shy of one billion dollars and his route from businessman to politician is similar to that of the president.
Ramaswamy was briefly in charge of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency. He gave up this position to Elon Musk to start his run for governor of Ohio.
Outlined on his campaign page, Ramaswamy describes his vision for Ohio: world-class education, growing businesses, embracing capitalism and meritocracy and the bleeding-edge of innovation.
“That’s where I’m going to lead our state, and you can take that to the bank as a modern-day Northwest Ordinance,” shared Ramaswamy in his “Vision for Ohio” section on his campaign website. “We’re a conservative state, and it’s time for us to finally be governed like one.”
Dr. Amy Acton
Source: City Club
Dr. Amy Acton is currently the sole Democratic candidate for the governor of Ohio.
She was the first Democratic candidate to launch a 2026 governor bid. She was born in Youngstown, Ohio and spent her childhood there. She has been open about her childhood and her personal struggles with abuse, hunger and periods of homelessness. She put herself through college at The Ohio State University to study pediatrics and preventative medicine.
Acton served as the director of the Ohio Department of Health from February 2019 to June 2020. She was noticed for her public health leadership during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, Amy served as the director of the Ohio Department of Public Health under the leadership of DeWine. In 2022, Acton was named Woman of the Year for Ohio by USA Today.
Acton has been endorsed by several city councilmembers in the state of Ohio but has not been officially endorsed by her own party.
Acton’s campaign has thus far emphasized her support for the life of the ordinary Ohioan.
“I am a doctor, advocate, and problem-solver,” writes Acton on her campaign website. “I’m running for Governor because I refuse to look away from Ohioans who are struggling while billionaires and special interests continue to take our state in the wrong direction.”
Timothy Grady
Unaffiliated with a political party, Timothy Grady is an independent candidate for Ohio governor.
Grady has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ohio University along with an associate’s degree in computer science from Stark State College. He is also currently pursuing a master of public administration at The Ohio State University.
Grady has held various jobs, including anti-money laundering analyst, political organizer, political consultant and campaign manager. He is the founder of the Heartland party.
On his website, Grady lists three principles guiding his campaign: integrity, freedom and improvement.
SOURCE: Ballotpedia
“We will focus on innovation through iteration, and we will speak truth to power,” shared Grady on his campaign objectives section of his personal website.
Grady writes on his campaign website about emphasizing transparency, efficiency and reliability. He speaks often about a movement of his called the “Rust Belt Renaissance” in which he revitalizes and restores the once rich and vibrant Midwest region into the powerhouse of industry it used to be.
“I’m not part of the old system,” adds Grady on his campaign website. “I’m an independent, a reformer, and I’m building a new movement to fight for the future; fight for a robust economy, honest government, and a state that finally works for all of us.”
Heather Brazell-Hill
Heather Brazell-Hill is another independent candidate, born and raised in Appalachia, Ohio.
She has an associate’s degree from Columbus State Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and graduated from Morgan High School, a nursing trade school. She is the first person of color to be elected in Morgan County.
She’s a small business owner and has served on several committees. She is heavily involved in her community and has been the secretary for the Black Caucus of Ohio School Board Association, a founding member for the Morgan Co. Habitat for Humanity while serving as their Family Support President.
SOURCE: https://heatherhillohio.com/photos.html
She has been nominated by Ohio State Senator Stewart for induction into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame and has joined the MLK Foundation in forming a local branch of the MLK Scholarship Fund.
She states her commitment to youth development, education and service while supporting Ohio’s foster children and her advocacy for suicide prevention and educational improvement.
Election Day
The 2026 general elections will take place on Nov. 3, 2026.