Overview
- Ryan said in a statement that he will not seek the governorship in 2026 after months of weighing a bid.
- With Ryan out, Acton is the presumptive Democratic nominee; aside from her, only political newcomer Jacob Chiara has filed as the February deadline remains open.
- Acton has amassed notable endorsements and set early fundraising marks for an Ohio Democrat, but Ramaswamy retains a dominant cash advantage, reporting $9.7 million to her $1.35 million as of August.
- Responding to Ryan’s decision, Acton emphasized an economic message and labeled Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur with President Trump’s endorsement, a “billionaire Washington insider.”
- Ryan’s deliberations followed Sherrod Brown’s choice to run for Senate and personal and financial considerations, as Republicans rallied behind Ramaswamy, who pressured Attorney General Dave Yost from the race and deterred a Jim Tressel bid with field-shaping moves by Gov. Mike DeWine.