Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is trailing his Democratic rival in the Ohio governor’s race, according to a new poll.
Ramaswamy is trailing Amy Acton by 7 percentage points as he battles to keep her from becoming the first Democrat since 2011 to sit in the Ohio governor’s mansion, according to a Marist poll released Tuesday.
Among independents, 53% support Acton compared to 34% for Ramaswamy, though nearly half of likely voters in Ohio believe Ramaswamy will win the election, the survey found.
Ramaswamy has dominating fundraising in the battleground race, pouring millions of his personal wealth into the campaign.
Overall, the Republican has raised $38.7 million to Acton’s $31.9 million, and received significantly more support from outside groups and super PACs than his opponent. That revenue flow has helped him take his message to voters, with Acton’s campaign spending only $3.3 million on ads through the end of June, roughly a quarter of Ramaswamy’s direct spending over the same span.
But Acton, who leads with individual campaign donors, has begun narrowing the gap.
In September, she raised $6.1 million to Ramaswamy’s $3.1 million, after outpacing him in July and August as well.
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, right, greets attendees before President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event at Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
" data-large-file="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AP26276854414186.jpg?w=1024" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AP26276854414186.jpg?w=1024" alt="Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, right, greets attendees before President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event at Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026." class="wp-image-4771898" srcset="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AP26276854414186.jpg 1024w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AP26276854414186.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/AP26276854414186.jpg?resize=768,512 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">
Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, right, greets attendees before President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an event at Butler High School in Vandalia, Ohio, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
The latest Marist survey comes as polling has painted a mixed picture of the Ohio governor’s race.
An Activote poll released Tuesday showed Ramaswamy with a 2.8% lead in the race. RealClearPolling’s average of surveys gives Acton a 3.7% edge, while 270 to Win shows her with a roughly 5% lead.
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As of Tuesday, betting markets such as Kalshi have Acton winning, 72% to 27%.
The Marist poll surveyed 1,176 registered voters between Oct. 15 and Oct. 18 with a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
