Amy Acton makes history as Ohio’s first woman governor and first Democrat to win the office since 2006, defeating the Trump-backed Republican…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Indian-American Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, whose family traces its roots to Kerala, has conceded defeat in the Ohio gubernatorial election, losing to Democrat Amy Acton in a major setback for President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Acton, a 60-year-old physician and former Ohio health director, made history on Tuesday by becoming the first woman elected governor of Ohio. She is also the first Democrat to win the office since 2006.
Late election-night returns showed Acton securing approximately 51 per cent of the vote, against Ramaswamy’s 46 per cent. Libertarian candidate Don Kissick received about three per cent.
The result marked a significant shift in a state Trump won comfortably in the 2024 presidential election. The Democratic swing was approximately 16 percentage points compared with Trump’s 11-point victory margin.
Ramaswamy acknowledged his defeat at an election-night gathering and said he had contacted Acton to congratulate her. He thanked his supporters, parents, wife Apoorva, their three children and running mate Rob McColley.
The 41-year-old had hoped to become Ohio’s first Indian-American governor after establishing himself as a prominent Republican figure during his unsuccessful 2024 presidential campaign.
His defeat was also a setback for Trump and Vance, both of whom had strongly backed his candidacy. Trump held campaign events in support of Ramaswamy, while Vance returned to his home state for an election-eve rally.
At a Republican rally in Chillicothe on October 28, Trump predicted that Ohio voters would elect Ramaswamy. Vance also urged supporters to back the Republican candidate and Senate President Jon Husted.
However, the results went against their expectations. Democrat Sherrod Brown also defeated Republican Senator Jon Husted, delivering another significant blow to the party in Ohio.
Ramaswamy’s campaign faced growing controversy in its final weeks over an advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother. The advertisement accused Acton of dishonesty and defended her stepfather, who had been charged with sexual abuse.
The campaign material drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, including outgoing Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. Trump defended Ramaswamy’s decision to use the advertisement.
The controversy became a major issue in the closing stages of the campaign. Acton had previously spoken about childhood sexual abuse and her removal from her mother’s care through a court order.
Ramaswamy campaigned on lower taxes, deregulation and reducing government expenditure. Acton focused on affordability, healthcare, education and support for working families.
The Republican candidate also invested heavily in the campaign, lending more than $36 million of his own money by late September. His overall campaign spending was reported at approximately $79 million.
According to Forbes, Ramaswamy’s wealth is estimated at around $2.2 billion. He made his fortune in the pharmaceutical sector after founding biotechnology company Roivant Sciences in 2014.
Born in Cincinnati in 1985, Ramaswamy is the son of Indian immigrants whose ancestral roots are in Vadakkencherry in Kerala’s Palakkad district. His father, V.G. Ramaswamy, worked as an engineer and patent lawyer after moving to the United States, while his mother, Geetha Ramaswamy, is a psychiatrist.
Ramaswamy graduated from Harvard University and Yale Law School. He became nationally prominent during the 2024 Republican presidential nomination contest, later withdrawing from the race and endorsing Trump.
He was subsequently named co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Elon Musk but left the role before Trump’s presidency began to pursue the Ohio governor’s race.
Had he won, Ramaswamy would have become the third Indian-American governor in US history, following Republicans Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina.
ALSO READ-A Defining Test for Ramaswamy in Ohio
