Democrat Amy Acton wins race for Ohio governor, the Associated Press projects

Democrat Dr. Amy Acton has won Ohio’s race for governor according to unofficial election results. The Associated Press called the race at 10:49 p.m.

Acton’s win marks the first time in 20 years that Ohio voters have selected a Democrat to lead the state. The political newcomer will likely have her work cut out for her. Despite a broadly positive night for her party, Acton will still be working with a Republican-controlled legislature.

Acton rose to statewide prominence at the outset of COVID-19 pandemic. In daily briefings alongside Gov. Mike DeWine, she distinguished herself as a communicator.

While Acton’s tenure as Ohio’s health director tipped her for a future in politics, it was also a source of ammunition for her opponent. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticized her relentlessly — although not factually — as “Dr. Lockdown.” Gov. Mike DeWine has insisted the decision to close Ohio businesses was his and his alone.

Acton’s campaign didn’t get bogged down re-litigating the pandemic. Instead, she stayed focused on issues of affordability. Acton promised a “working families tax cut,” pairing a new earned income credit with a child tax credit. She committed to bringing down utility costs and starting a program to forgive medical debt.

Acton also called for a gas tax holiday a few hours before Ramaswamy embraced the idea.

The ad

In the closing weeks of the campaign, it appeared Acton might be on track to win the race as voters nationally soured on Republican leadership. But then an advertisement started circulating online, featuring Acton’s estranged mother Donna Arthur calling her a liar. Within hours, Ramaswamy’s campaign went from issuing a statement that didn’t deny they made the ad to acknowledging it was theirs.

The ad drew widespread condemnation and seems to have irreparably damaged Ramaswamy’ campaign.

Arthur sided with her husband and Acton’s stepfather, Cledith Arthur, when Acton accused him of raping her as a child. Cledith had already faced accusations of incest and pedophilia from a prior marriage. After a Mahoning County grand jury indicted Cledith in the case involving Acton, he and Donna skipped bail and fled the state. Acton said the last time she saw her mother was at the courthouse nearly 50 years ago.

Ramaswamy stood by the ad. He insisted Acton had lied about him, and “that deserves to be corrected.” Vice President JD Vance defended it, too, admonishing GOP critics to “quit whining.”

Speaking in Bexley Tuesday morning after she cast her ballot, Acton criticized Ramaswamy for running the ad. But she refused to credit it with putting her over the top.

“We were by all indications inching out ahead all along,” she said, noting her polling advantage with independents and the number of GOP voters who told her they were supporting her.

“It’s what we’ve seen on the ground,” she said. “It just hasn’t known party.”

“I do know and believe that my opponent crossed the line,” she added. “Five living governors on both sides denounced what he did. I have felt all along that there’s no low he won’t go to. I think he is out of touch. He’s out for himself, and I’ve always felt he was a danger to our state.”