Amy Acton wins Ohio governorship, becomes state's first female chief executive

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 3 (AP), Amy Acton, the state's former health director, won the Ohio governor's race on Tuesday. The Associated Press called the contest just before 11 p.m., with 85 percent of votes in.

Acton, 60, is the first woman to hold the office. She defeated Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and Republican candidate backed by President Trump.

The victory marks the first time in 20 years that Ohio voters have chosen a Democrat to lead the state. The race ended in a landslide of political history, though the final weeks were marked by intense attacks.

Outgoing Republican Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Acton as health director early in his first term. The two worked together during the early days of the pandemic, holding joint briefings on lockdowns and safety measures until Acton resigned in July 2020. She ran on her public health experience, promising a statewide child tax credit and medical debt forgiveness.

The campaign drew national attention in late October. The Ramaswamy team aired an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, who called Acton a liar. Arthur had lost custody of Acton when the candidate was 12 years old. The ad prompted criticism from some Republicans, including DeWine, though Trump and Ramaswamy defended the spot.

Acton will take office in January. She faces a state legislature where Republicans hold a majority, a dynamic that may limit her ability to push new policies through.