New Ohio Poll Puts Amy Acton Ahead of Vivek Ramaswamy as Governor Race Tightens
A new Ohio gubernatorial poll has put Democrat Amy Acton slightly ahead of Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, adding another data point to a closely divided race ahead of the November election.
The Bowling Green State University/YouGov poll, released Sept. 16, found Acton receiving 48% support among likely voters, compared with 45% for Ramaswamy. About 7% supported another candidate or otherwise fell outside the two leading choices, according to reporting on the survey.
The three-point difference is within the poll’s margin of error, meaning the survey does not establish a statistically clear advantage for either candidate.
The result also illustrates how much the polling picture has changed since Ramaswamy entered the race.
Ramaswamy Previously Held a Larger Lead
Earlier surveys showed Ramaswamy with a more substantial advantage over Acton.
An August 2025 Emerson College poll had Ramaswamy at 49% and Acton at 39% in a hypothetical general-election matchup. By December 2025, the same pollster found the contest much closer, with Acton at 46% and Ramaswamy at 45%.
Polling conducted during 2026 has continued to show a competitive contest.
A March EMC Research survey commissioned by the Ohio Environment Council found Acton leading Ramaswamy 53% to 43%, although that poll was conducted for an advocacy organization and therefore has a different sponsorship context from an independently funded survey.
Other surveys have produced narrower margins or small leads for Ramaswamy. A polling compilation from 270toWin lists August surveys from Wedgewood Polls and Fox News showing Ramaswamy at 46% and 50%, respectively, while Acton received 47% and 48%.
Latest Survey Shows a Three-Point Acton Lead
The newest Bowling Green survey was conducted among 1,000 likely Ohio voters.
Acton’s 48%-45% result represents a narrow numerical lead, but the margin is important to interpret in context. Polls are measurements of voter preferences at the time they are conducted; they are not results of the election itself.
The survey was released less than seven weeks before Election Day, making it one of the more recent publicly reported snapshots of the contest.
The campaign for Acton highlighted the result as evidence that the race remains competitive. Because campaign statements are inherently partisan, claims about what the poll means for the eventual outcome should be distinguished from the survey’s underlying numbers.
Who Is Running?
Ramaswamy, a businessman and former presidential candidate, is the Republican nominee for governor.
Acton, a physician and former director of the Ohio Department of Health, is the Democratic nominee. Both candidates secured their parties’ nominations in Ohio’s May 2026 primary.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is unable to seek another consecutive term because of Ohio’s term limits, leaving the office open for the 2026 election.
The race also includes Libertarian candidate Don Kissick, according to Inside Elections’ current candidate listing.
Polling Has Moved Considerably During the Campaign
The available polling shows a contest that has produced different results depending on the pollster, timing and methodology.
For example, 270toWin’s compilation lists several 2026 surveys, including:
- EMC Research, March: Acton 53%, Ramaswamy 43%
- Quantus Insights, March: Acton 46%, Ramaswamy 45%
- Bowling Green, April: Ramaswamy 48%, Acton 47%
- Echelon Insights, April: Ramaswamy 49%, Acton 44%
- Fox News, June: Ramaswamy 49%, Acton 50%
- AARP, June: Acton 47%, Ramaswamy 44%
- Siena College, July: Acton 47%, Ramaswamy 47%
- Wedgewood Polls, August: Acton 47%, Ramaswamy 46%
- Fox News, August: Ramaswamy 50%, Acton 48%
The newest Bowling Green result therefore adds to a pattern of relatively close polling rather than establishing a definitive trend.
A polling average published by FiftyPlusOne on Sept. 18 put Acton at 47.5% and Ramaswamy at 46.1%. Such averages combine multiple surveys and are subject to their own methodology; they should not be treated as election results.
Race Ratings Have Also Changed
Independent election analysts have adjusted their assessments during the campaign.
Inside Elections currently lists the Ohio governor’s race as Tilt Republican, after previously rating it Lean Republican in June. Its assessment is separate from individual public-opinion polls and should not be confused with a prediction of the election’s result.
The difference between polling measurements and race ratings is important: polls report what surveyed voters said, while race ratings incorporate broader political and campaign considerations.
What the New Numbers Show
The latest Bowling Green poll does not establish who will win the governor’s race.
Instead, it shows that Acton and Ramaswamy remain separated by only three percentage points in that particular survey, a difference within the poll’s margin of error. Other recent surveys have produced results ranging from small Acton advantages to small Ramaswamy advantages.
With Election Day scheduled for Nov. 3, additional polling and campaign developments will provide further measurements of the race.
For now, the latest statewide survey is best understood as another snapshot of a closely contested Ohio governor’s race—not as a forecast of the final result.
Benjamin Harris is a RapidReports front page contributor and editor,proud father of four.
