OHIO GOVERNOR RACE ERUPTS: RAMASWAMY AND ACTON DROP RUNNING MATES THIS CHOICE COULD SHAKE UP THE ENTIRE 2026 ELECTION.c1
As Ohio barrels toward the 2026 governor’s race, both major candidates took a crucial step this week by announcing their lieutenant governor running mates — a move that not only strengthens their tickets but also sheds light on each campaign’s strategic priorities.
Meanwhile, Dr. Amy Acton, the former Ohio health director best known for leading the state’s early pandemic response, chose David Pepper as her running mate. A longtime Democratic strategist and former state party chairman, Pepper brings decades of political experience at the local and state levels, including time on the Cincinnati City Council and Hamilton County Commission.
Ramaswamy’s selection of McColley signals a clear effort to balance his outsider, business‑centric image with established political credentials. McColley, first elected to the Ohio House in 2014 and appointed to the state Senate in 2017, has since risen to a powerful leadership position in the Ohio Legislature.
Ramaswamy characterized McColley’s experience as a key asset for the campaign, emphasizing that crafting and passing legislation requires political savvy — something Ramaswamy has acknowledged he lacks due to his background outside government. The choice is also meant to reassure conservative voters that the campaign has deep roots within Republican governance circles and isn’t purely driven by celebrity and business credentials.
Supporters argue that McColley’s presence on the ticket enhances Ramaswamy’s credibility on issues like tax policy, regulatory reform, and conservative social policy, potentially expanding his appeal to traditional GOP voters and legislators. But opponents have criticized McColley’s record, particularly on issues like abortion restrictions and fossil fuel support, arguing the choice might energize Democratic opposition.
Acton’s selection of David Pepper is meant to do more than fill a resume gap — it’s an attempt to signal pragmatism and problem‑solving leadership. Pepper’s career spans local government roles where he tackled issues such as foreclosure prevention, earned income tax credits, and prescription drug affordability — all themes that resonate with moderate and working‑class voters.
Acton has often framed her campaign as being about listening deeply to everyday Ohioans and delivering solutions rather than ideology. Bringing Pepper into the fold reinforces that message. With his extensive network within the Democratic Party, including as a former state party chairman, Pepper can also help Acton expand her reach to party loyalists and organizational structures that are key in turnout‑driven elections.
Ohio’s governor race is one of the most closely watched political battles in the country. Polls consistently show a tight contest between Ramaswamy and Acton, with neither candidate holding a decisive statewide advantage.
That makes choices like running mates more than ceremonial: they send signals about who candidates *trust, what voters they’re trying to attract, and how they intend to govern. In a state where voter preferences are finely balanced and independent voters can swing an election, adding seasoned political figures to the ticket can be crucial.
