Ohio Voter Elects Amy Acton, First Woman and First Jewish Governor

Five hundred thousand Ohio voters chose Democrat Amy Acton as their next governor on Tuesday, a result that makes her the first woman and first Jewish person to hold the office. She defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in a contest that drew national criticism for its final weeks of mudslinging and a specific attack ad. Acton will be the first Democrat to serve as Ohio governor in two decades.

Acton served as the state's chief public health officer during the pandemic. Her victory in the November general election concludes a primary and general cycle that included a suspended campaign by her opponent, Tom Tiffany, who is running in Wisconsin. In Ohio, the race was defined by a direct confrontation between the public health official and the former congressman and businessman.

The result is part of a nationwide pattern where voters in nine states selected candidates for governor who broke previous records. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms won the governor's race. The 56-year-old former mayor of Atlanta will be the first Black woman elected governor of any state. She defeated Republican Rick Jackson, a billionaire health care executive. This win also marks the first Democratic governor in Georgia in more than two decades.

In New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland was elected governor. Haaland, who is of Pueblo Indian descent, will be the first Native American woman to hold that office. She previously served in Congress and as Interior secretary under President Biden. Her opponent was Republican Gregg Hull.

Two states elected their first Latino or Latina governors. Xavier Becerra, a former California attorney general and member of Congress, won the California race. He defeated Republican Steve Hilton. Becerra will succeed Gavin Newsom. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa, a state representative, defeated incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott. Hinojosa will be the first Latina governor of Texas and the first Democrat in the state in more than 30 years.

Florida and Wisconsin both elected their first Black governors. Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman, won the Florida race. He campaigned on affordability and the continuation of conservative politics. His opponent was Democrat David Jolly. In Wisconsin, Democrat David Crowley defeated Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany. Crowley is the Milwaukee County executive. He had previously suspended his primary campaign before reentering with the support of outgoing Governor Tony Evers.

Tennessee and Minnesota also saw women elected as governor for the first time. Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn won in Tennessee, defeating Democrat Jerri Green. Her campaign focused on immigration and government spending. In Minnesota, Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar defeated Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House. Klobuchar will take office in January.

Acton and the other newly elected governors will begin their terms in early 2027. The elections across these nine states represent a shift in state leadership demographics, with new faces taking office in the South, the West, and the Midwest. The results were finalized on Tuesday night, setting the stage for the next four years of state policy.