Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy just got some good news in the race for Ohio governor.
Ramaswamy is leading Democrat Amy Acton roughly two months before Election Day.
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In a recent Fox News poll, Ramaswamy is ahead 50% to 48%, while another August poll from Wedgewood Polls found Acton leading 47% to 46%.
Ramaswamy, a Cincinnati-area entrepreneur who became a national conservative figure during his 2024 presidential campaign, entered the governor’s race with Trump’s endorsement.
He also secured the Republican nomination to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Mike DeWine.
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Acton, meanwhile, is a physician and former Ohio Department of Health director who became a highly visible figure during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Democrats are hoping her statewide name recognition can help them break the Republican Party’s longstanding grip on Ohio government.
The Democrat’s record during the pandemic is expected to remain a major issue as Republicans remind voters of the sweeping restrictions imposed during that period.
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Ramaswamy is countering with an agenda centered on lowering the cost of living, reforming the state’s criminal justice system, improving education, and making Ohio a more attractive destination for families and businesses.
The Republican has also framed the election as a choice between continuing Ohio’s conservative direction and returning control of the governor’s office to Democrats.
Call the Map’s forecast as of Thursday gave Ramaswamy a 70-in-100 chance of winning and projected him to prevail by approximately 3.6 percentage points.
Tech billionaire and Department of Government Efficiency co-leader Elon Musk has injected $5 million into a super PAC supporting Ramaswamy’s bid for governor of Ohio.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee endorsed him this week, praising those exact priorities during a speech at Kimball Midwest.
The business group has backed previous Republican governors, including Mike DeWine and John Kasich.
Ramaswamy has already demonstrated strong personal commitment by self-funding $25 million into his campaign — a record-setting move that helped drive total spending well past $28 million.
🚨BREAKING: Vivek Ramaswamy is set to win against Amy Acton in the Ohio governor’s race by 2%.
Ohio – 2026 governor
🟥Vivek Ramaswamy 50% (+2)
🟦Amy Acton 48%See all OH governor polls @Pollsmax.
This is the first major poll after the primaries that Ramaswamy has led in.… pic.twitter.com/LnCsrqQ0kf
— Election Time (@ElectionTime_) August 17, 2026
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His campaign has poured resources into advertising and ground operations in what is shaping up to be one of the most expensive gubernatorial races in Ohio history.
The Musk contribution joins other major support for Ramaswamy-aligned efforts. Billionaire investor Jeff Yass has given at least $10 million — and reports indicate up to $20 million total — to a key pro-Ramaswamy super PAC.
New York financier Ross Stevens contributed another $5 million to the same group.
These large checks have helped super PACs like Victors not Victims and V-PAC amplify the candidate’s message across the state.
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Ramaswamy and Musk share a history from their work on the federal Department of Government Efficiency, where they have been described as both friends and occasional rivals in the push to reduce waste and streamline operations.
The latest donation underscores Musk’s willingness to back candidates he believes will bring similar efficiency-focused leadership to state government.
Republicans’ fundraising advantage could grow even larger following the Supreme Court’s decision Tuesday, a ruling that comes as Democrats continue to face fundraising challenges ahead of the midterm elections.
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Democrats contend that the court’s ruling, which allows political parties to coordinate more freely with candidates on campaign spending, could give Republicans a significant advantage by helping the GOP better compete in key battleground races where Democratic candidates have traditionally outraised their opponents.
Republicans already hold a fundraising advantage through the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The gap is even wider at the national party level, where the Republican National Committee has reported substantially more cash on hand than the Democratic National Committee.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
