Ohioans will head to the polls on Nov. 3 and cast a vote for the 65th governor of Ohio. One candidate grew up in adversity, facing poverty, abuse and hunger. The other is the son of immigrants, with a privileged upbringing in private school.

One has had a career in healthcare and nonprofits, while the other has been a biotech entrepreneur.

Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy have little in common, except for two things. Both have been steeped in controversy in their careers – and neither has ever held elective office before.

Democrat Amy Acton was an obscure figure before she became well-known during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as Ohio’s first female health director. This is an appointed position (by Mike Dewine 2019), rather than elected.

Acton was simultaneously praised and reviled for her actions during the pandemic. Some looked to her as a hero for taking bold action and saving lives, while others thought her lockdown measures were heavy-handed and detrimental to schools and businesses.

Acton received her MD in 1990 from Northeast Ohio Medical University, working her way through school. Her only political experience was at the grassroots level as a volunteer for the Obama presidential campaign in 2008. Acton resigned as Ohio health director after 17 months, mainly due to the protests of her actions during the pandemic in 2020.

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy was also an unknown before running in the republican primary for the 2024 presidential election.

Ramaswamy was seen as a gifted orator and debater in the contentious race, however Donald Trump ultimately prevailed as the nominee.

After attending private school in Cincinnati, Ramaswamy graduated with honors from Harvard in 2007 with a degree in biology, and earned a law degree from Yale in 2013. He founded a biotech company called Roivant Sciences in 2014, and served as CEO for seven years.

In 2017, Ramaswamy spearheaded the development of an Alzheimer’s drug called intepirdine, through Roivant subsidiary Axovant Sciences. The drug ultimately failed clinical trials. He calls this the “biggest failure” of his career. According to Forbes, his net worth currently stands at $1.8 billion – an increase of 80 percent during his run for governor.

These two candidates represent new and unusual choices for the Ohio governor race.

Normally, gubernatorial candidates hail from either U.S. Congress, another statewide office, or mayoral experience in large cities. Amy Acton was none of these, and expressed interest in governor during the Democratic National Convention in 2024. She ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary in May.

The Republican side was more complicated. The assumption was that former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted would be the heir apparent for the Republican ticket. However, Governor Dewine nominated him to replace J.D. Vance in the U.S. Senate, when Vance ascended to the vice presidency.

The next customary choice would have been former Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a longtime Republican politician.

However, Donald Trump endorsed Ramaswamy over Yost, shortly after his inauguration in 2025. Ramaswamy was initially tapped to lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Elon Musk, however he stepped down almost immediately. DOGE ceased operations on July 4, 2026.

The race also represents a generational divide. Acton is at the early end of Generation X, born in 1966. Ramaswamy is a Millennial, born in 1985.

Each of the candidates has moderate executive experience.

Acton was in charge of the Ohio Department of Health for 17 months, which has approximately 1,500 employees. Ramaswamy was CEO of Roivant Sciences for seven years; the company had approximately 700 employees and $50 million in revenue when Ramaswamy left in 2021.

Ohio voters were hoping to see a televised debate between the two, however this is not going to happen. Acton refuses to debate Ramaswamy, citing his “toxic” and false campaign ads that allege substance abuse and alcoholism on her part.

Acton has accused Ramaswamy of enriching himself from the failed Alzheimer’s drug, and trying to “buy” Ohio with outside billionaire donations.

The lack of a debate is nearly unheard of when neither candidate is an incumbent. Sitting Governor Mike Dewine refused to debate former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley in the 2022 governor race, the reason being his huge advantage in the polls. Ohio hasn’t had a gubernatorial debate since 2018.

Both candidates have spoken out about controversial technology issues.

Sept. 14, Amy Acton announced her support for prohibiting all Ohio police departments from using Flock cameras. Ramaswamy disagrees with the ban, but also has concerns about an eventual “Chinese-style surveillance state.”

Regarding data centers, Ramaswamy has promised an executive order on his first day in office putting a moratorium on any new data-center projects, until comprehensive reform legislation is passed. This would include free electricity and property-tax rebates for nearby residents.

Acton has promised a conditional moratorium, desiring union construction labor, environmental reform, and an end to secrecy resulting from nondisclosure agreements.

Both candidates have bucked traditional partisan lines on various issues.

Acton has angered some supporters by agreeing that transgender people should not participate in female sports. Additionally, she is in favor of photo ID requirements for voting.

In July, Ramaswamy was booed off the stage at a Young Americans for Liberty conference in his hometown of Cincinnati. He has also faced conservative fire for his support of replacing American engineers with foreign H-1B visa workers.

The candidate websites are actonforgovernor.com and vivekforohio.com.

Acton’s priorities include improving education, cleaning up corruption, labor union protection, reproductive freedom, and property tax relief. Ramaswamy highlights aggressive property and income tax cuts, education reform, increased crimefighting resources, and removing political division among Ohioans.

In the absence of a debate, the Chronicle encourages readers to rise above the mudslinging and do their own research. Polls show that this is a highly competitive and razor-thin race, within the margin of error.

Ohio’s gross domestic product ranks seventh in the U.S. at nearly $1 trillion, with a population of 12 million. While many people are generally disappointed in politics and ready to stay home, our next governor will face immense challenges. Every vote will count on Nov. 3.