Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has officially endorsed Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and his running mate, Senate President Rob McColley, giving the GOP ticket a boost ahead of the 2026 governor's race. Ramaswamy named McColley as his lieutenant governor pick, while Democrat Dr. Amy Acton selected David Pepper. DeWine praised Ramaswamy's agenda for sustaining Ohio's business momentum. Recent Emerson polling cited by the Statehouse News Bureau shows Acton's lead shrinking from 10 points in August to just one point.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Endorses Vivek Ramaswamy, Boosting GOP Ticket Ahead of 2026 Race
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a candidate for Ohio governor in 2026, spoke at a town hall at The River Church in Cincinnati on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. On Wednesday, he received a high-profile endorsement from incumbent Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R), a move that strengthens the GOP ticket as the campaign season intensifies.
Ramaswamy announced on Tuesday that he had chosen Senate President Rob McColley as his running mate for lieutenant governor. The following morning, his Democratic opponent, former Ohio Department of Health director Dr. Amy Acton, announced that she had selected former Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper as her lieutenant governor pick.
DeWine formally declared his support for the Ramaswamy–McColley ticket, saying he was joining Republicans across Ohio in backing the "dynamic" team. He praised Ohio for attracting new business projects from the coasts and said Ramaswamy would preserve that momentum.
On McColley, DeWine said: "Senate President McColley is a strong leader who is well respected by the members of the General Assembly. He knows Ohio and brings geographical balance to the ticket."
The contest looks increasingly competitive. The Statehouse News Bureau reported that an Emerson poll in August showed Acton leading Ramaswamy by 10 points; a more recent Emerson survey narrowed that margin to just one point. That tightening margin underscores how both campaigns are jockeying for momentum as endorsements and running-mate announcements land.
Photo: Republican Vivek Ramaswamy at a town hall in Cincinnati, Sept. 26, 2025 (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster).
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