The Emerson College Polling survey shows Democrat Amy Acton essentially tied with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor, 46% to 45%, with 9% undecided and a margin of error of ±3.3 points. Since August, Acton has gained 7 points while Ramaswamy is down 4. The poll also shows a close Senate race (Husted 49%, Brown 46%) and lists the economy as voters' top concern at 44%. Analysts note shifting support among women toward Acton and evolving party ID among younger voters.
Poll: Democrat Amy Acton Nearly Tied With Vivek Ramaswamy In Ohio Governor Race
A new Emerson College Polling survey released Thursday finds Democrat Amy Acton virtually tied with Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the contest for Ohio governor. The poll reports Acton at 46%, Ramaswamy at 45%, with 9% undecided — a gap well inside the survey’s margin of error.
What the Numbers Show
The survey’s margin of error is ±3.3 percentage points. Compared with a similar Emerson poll conducted in August, Acton has gained 7 points while Ramaswamy has slipped 4 points. Those shifts have narrowed what had been a clearer Republican advantage earlier in the cycle.
“Four months later, men still support Ramaswamy by about 20 points, 55% to 35%, but women have shifted toward Acton, breaking for her 56% to 37%,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.
Senate Race And Voter Priorities
The poll also measured the U.S. Senate contest in Ohio, finding Jon Husted (R) at 49% and Sherrod Brown (D) at 46%, with 5% undecided. Since August, Brown has inched up by 2 points while Husted has lost about 1 point.
When asked which issue matters most, respondents ranked the economy first (44%), followed by threats to democracy (13%), health care (11%), housing affordability (9%) and immigration (8%).
Generational And Gender Shifts
Emerson’s director highlighted notable demographic movement: women have moved decisively toward Acton since August, while men remain more likely to support Ramaswamy. The poll also found that Ohioans who did not vote in 2024 — many under 30 — are more likely to identify as Republicans than Democrats, though the under-30 cohort still favors Democrats by roughly 12 points overall. Voters in their 30s show an even larger Democratic edge.
Methodology: The Emerson College Polling survey was conducted Dec. 6–8 among 850 active, registered Ohio voters. Reported figures are rounded and may not sum to 100.
