Ramaswamy concedes and says he is ‘rooting’ for Ohio and Acton

Amy Acton pledged in her acceptance speech Tuesday to work with “anyone and everyone.” “My promise to Ohio, to those who voted for me and those who did not, is that I will work with anyone and everyone, and I always have to make life better for Ohioans,” she said. Acton also said, “the healing begins today.” The speech came as CBS News projections showed her defeating Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio’s governor race. BBC News reported that the projected result would make Acton the first woman ever to win Ohio’s governorship and the first Democrat to win the office in two decades.

Vivek Ramaswamy conceded, saying in his concession speech that he was “rooting” for the state and for Acton. The billionaire biotech entrepreneur ran against Donald Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024 before switching to the Ohio governor’s race. He pitched himself as a political outsider, like Trump, and wanted to develop the president’s “America First” agenda.

Ramaswamy said his campaign would spend $4m (£3m) to air the advertisement across Ohio. After it began airing, the editorial board of the Columbus Dispatch, a local Ohio news outlet, endorsed Acton and described the advertisement as “revolting and unsettling.”

In a related BBC News report, Amy Acton responded to the advertisement by calling it “This is despicable.” The advertisement featured Acton’s estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who said her daughter “lied her entire life.” BBC News reported that the advertisement did not mention that Arthur’s husband had been charged with raping Acton when she was a child. The advertisement aired during the final weeks of the race.

The advertisement drew criticism from former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, while Republican Gov. Mike DeWine called it “deeply troubling.” President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance defended it. Trump described the advertisement as “powerful” and encouraged Ramaswamy to keep it running. Vance, the state’s former senator, said he would like fellow Republicans to stop “whining” about the advertisement and said he was “a little bit disgusted” by criticism from members of his own party.

Acton is a physician and public health official who talked about her experience with homelessness as a child while campaigning for affordability. Voter frustration with the economy and the cost of living was the central theme of the race.

Ohio, a key battleground for much of the 2000s, voted for Republican Donald Trump in the last three presidential elections, including by 11 points in 2024. Ohio is a swing state, and Republican candidates are now facing close challenges across the country.

CBS News projections indicated Acton would succeed Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who is term limited.