3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Lowering costs and cutting taxes for the middle class, and taking on the corruption she says has raised Ohioans' bills.
'Ohio Rx,' a state purchasing platform intended to drive down prescription drug prices.
A day-one push to relieve Ohioans' medical debt 'for pennies on the dollar.'
Reproductive rights: 'Every Ohioan deserves the right to make their own reproductive health care decisions, free from government interference.'
LGBTQ+ equality — 'All Ohioans deserve to be treated fairly and equally under the law' — and pushing for anti-discrimination laws covering employment and housing.
Working across the aisle to solve problems.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Physician; director of the Ohio Department of Health from 2019 until her resignation in June 2020.
With Governor Mike DeWine, ordered the school and business closures in spring 2020 that made her the public face of Ohio's COVID-19 response.
Grew up in poverty in Youngstown.
Ran unopposed in the May 5 2026 Democratic primary.
Added LGBTQ+ equality language to her campaign platform in July 2026 after criticism over an earlier position on transgender issues.
Broke with her own party in August 2026 to support Ohio's Issue 3.
Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.
Her campaign has said she will not debate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Arguments in favor
She is a physician whose platform is specific about health costs — a state drug purchasing platform and a medical debt relief programme — rather than general promises.
— Dr. Amy Acton for Governor campaign
She would protect abortion access in Ohio and push anti-discrimination protections into state law.
— Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio
Voters will not let her opponent 'buy this state' — she contrasts her Youngstown upbringing with a rival campaigning by corporate jet.
— Amy Acton, in her primary night speech
Arguments against
'Amy Acton wasn't holding Ohio in her arms, she was blindly following Dr. Fauci's failed playbook' — the school and business closures she ordered in 2020 did lasting damage to Ohio families.
— Republican Governors Association
Her pandemic tenure was 'recklessness dressed up in authority' and 'a record marked by unconstitutional overreach, preventable suffering, and lasting damage.'
— Ohio Republican Party
'If you're not willing to debate, you certainly can't lead this state' — she has refused to appear opposite him, which would leave Ohio without a gubernatorial debate.
— Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican nominee
What we couldn’t verify
Her position on Ohio's property tax debate, which is central to the Republican campaign, could not be established from a source read directly.
How Ohio Rx and medical debt relief would be financed.
Whether she will reconsider debating before November.
Her campaign finance totals were not located.
A fact-check by Signal Ohio and Cincinnati CityBeat found Ohio's early pandemic restrictions comparable to those in Texas and Florida, which cuts against the framing of the criticisms above; readers should weigh both.
Rolling back property taxes to roughly their pre-pandemic level, and phasing out Ohio's state income tax.
Deregulation: 'For every new regulation that gets on the books under my administration, we will require rescinding at least ten others before that regulation hits the books.'
Lowering electric bills and attracting low-cost, dependable industry.
Education: 'put parents back in the driver's seat.'
Expanding fossil fuel production and dropping anti-carbon mandates.
Expanded Second Amendment rights including nationwide constitutional carry, opposition to red flag laws, and tougher sentencing.
Support for high-skilled worker visas.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Founder of Roivant Sciences and author; born and raised in Cincinnati.
Candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Briefly involved in leading the federal Department of Government Efficiency effort before leaving in early 2025 to run for governor.
Has not previously held elected office.
Won the May 5 2026 Republican primary over Casey Putsch.
Has visited all 88 Ohio counties during the campaign and says he has deleted social media apps from his phone.
Publicly condemned 'rising antisemitism and racism in the Republican Party' during the 2026 campaign.
Arguments in favor
He describes himself as 'a pragmatist' who 'believes in common sense,' and has done the retail work — all 88 counties — rather than campaigning from a studio.
— Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor campaign
His tax plan is the most aggressive in the race: property taxes back to pre-pandemic levels and a phase-out of the state income tax, paired with a ten-for-one regulatory rollback.
— Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor campaign
He broke with parts of his own coalition to condemn rising antisemitism and racism in the Republican Party, which supporters treat as evidence he is not simply following the base.
— Vivek Ramaswamy, as reported by NBC News
Arguments against
He 'will continue more of the same policies that have made life unaffordable for working Ohioans' — a 'flaky tech bro' campaigning by private jet.
— Katie Seewer, Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson
'There's nothing about this man that's Ohio' — he has 'disdain and contempt for Americans, their heritage.'
— Casey Putsch, his Republican primary opponent
Parts of the Republican base have not forgiven his December 2024 defence of H-1B visas for high-skilled tech workers.
— Republicans quoted by NBC News
What we couldn’t verify
His official campaign website could not be verified, so no URL is listed.
How phasing out the state income tax and cutting property taxes would be paid for; no replacement revenue plan was located.
His position on Ohio's 2023 constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights.
Ending Ohio's property tax, lowering income taxes and rolling back the diesel fuel tax.
Eliminating the K-12 portion of the Ohio Department of Education workforce, on the grounds that district administrative costs are excessive.
Supporting the 2026 state constitutional amendment protecting same-sex marriage in Ohio if the U.S. Supreme Court reverses its prior ruling.
Removing government bureaucracy from Ohio's marijuana industry.
Opposing ICE, on the view that immigration enforcement should be civil rather than militarised.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Central Committee chair of the Libertarian Party of Ohio.
From Ottawa, Ohio; born 1970.
Won the Libertarian Party's May 5 2026 primary for governor; runs with James L. Mills for lieutenant governor.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
What we couldn’t verify
No organised advocacy for his candidacy and no criticism of him by name from an opposing campaign or outlet could be found, so no arguments are listed on either side.
How ending Ohio's property tax — the main source of local school and municipal funding — would be replaced.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Open seat: Republican Mike DeWine is term-limited. Roster established from Wikipedia's race page, Ballotpedia, Ohio Capital Journal, NBC News, Signal Ohio and county boards of election candidate lists, cross-checked. In the May 5 2026 primaries, Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination over Casey Putsch, and Amy Acton was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Ohio elects governor and lieutenant governor as a joint ticket: Ramaswamy runs with state Senate President Rob McColley, Acton with former Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper, and the Libertarian ticket is Don Kissick with James L. Mills. Those three tickets are the whole ballot. There will most likely be no gubernatorial debate: Acton's campaign has said she will not debate Ramaswamy, citing his advertising. Kissick is listed with empty argument sections — no organised advocacy for him and no criticism of him by name from an opposing campaign or outlet could be found. The order candidates appear on the Ohio ballot could not be confirmed.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Ohio ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.