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Ramaswamy’s Attack Ads Crumble Against Unstoppable Acton Enthusiasm
Ohio’s 2026 Governor Race: A Tale of Two Campaigns
Published: August 2, 2026
Author: Thomas Suddes (former legislative reporter, writing from Ohio University)
The Big Picture
Ohio’s race for governor in 2026 is shaping up to be a classic showdown between two very different styles of campaigning:
- Dr. Amy Acton (Democrat) → Running a "ground game" – meeting voters face-to-face at county fairs, rallies, and community events
- Vivek Ramaswamy (Republican) → Running an "air war" – focusing on TV ads and negative advertising
KEY INSIGHT: Former two-term Governor Richard Celeste (age 88!) is actively campaigning for Acton across Ohio – and he says the energy on the ground is "uniformly upbeat."
Meet the Candidates
Dr. Amy Acton (Democrat)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Age | 60 |
| Background | Physician, born in Youngstown |
| Education | Youngstown State (undergrad) → Northeast Ohio Medical University |
| Experience | Served as State Health Director under Republican Gov. Mike DeWine |
| Home | Bexley, Ohio |
Vivek Ramaswamy (Republican)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Age | 41 (turns 41 on Aug. 9) |
| Background | Entrepreneur, born in Cincinnati |
| Education | Harvard (undergrad) → Yale Law School |
| Business | Founder of Strive Asset Management (moved HQ from Columbus to Dallas in late 2024) |
| Home | Upper Arlington, Ohio |
The "Ground Game" vs. The "Air War"
Acton’s Strategy: People Power
- Visible at county fairs across Ohio: Clermont, Butler, Licking, Tuscarawas, Stark, Cuyahoga, and more
- Former Gov. Richard Celeste personally campaigning for her
- Yard signs spotted in traditionally Republican areas (Butler & Clark counties)
- Volunteers motivated by what they see in their communities – not TV ads
Celeste’s Observation: "I judge a campaign by its energy. The energy in the counties I visited was uniformly upbeat. Many folks who are not normally involved, or who have been turned off by all the negativity, want to help Dr. Acton become governor."
Ramaswamy’s Strategy: TV Ads
- Mostly TV-based campaign
- Negative ads targeting Acton
- Less visible presence at local community events
- Celeste’s critique: "Lying and buying is not a winning formula."
Who Is Richard Celeste? (And Why Does He Matter?)
IMPORTANT POINT: Celeste isn’t just any endorser – he’s a political heavyweight with deep Ohio roots.
| Role | Years |
|---|---|
| Ohio Governor | 1983–1990 (two terms) |
| Lieutenant Governor | 1975–1978 |
| Ohio House Member | Earlier career (Greater Cleveland) |
| U.S. Ambassador to India | — |
| Peace Corps Director | 1979–1981 |
| President of Colorado College | Retired from this role |
His biggest win as governor: Steered Ohio through the 1985 Home State Savings Bank collapse (worst banking crisis since the 1930s) via a bipartisan effort that protected every depositor’s money.
Celeste’s Bottom Line: "This is a campaign of people power vs. big money. And big money has begun to have a very bad odor."
The Policy Divide: What Are They Actually Fighting About?
Ramaswamy’s Platform: Tax Cuts
- Core proposal: Large tax cuts
- Critique from Suddes: Ohio isn’t a notably high-tax state
- Counter-argument: Tax burdens would be lighter if state government bore more cost of public schools (instead of pushing it onto homeowners)
Acton’s Platform: Management & Kitchen-Table Economics
- Focus: Competent management of state government
- Core issues: Grocery bills, gas prices, property taxes
- Background advantage: Served in a Republican administration (DeWine) – shows bipartisan experience
Suddes’ Take: "Ohio gubernatorial campaigns, at their core, aren’t about ideas; they’re about management and – because it affects every Ohioan – the economy."
The "Dallas Move" Controversy
In late 2024, Ramaswamy moved his company Strive Asset Management headquarters from Columbus to Dallas.
Why it matters:
- Democrats call it inconsistent with his promise to boost Ohio’s economic development
- Looks like he’s investing in Texas, not Ohio
- Feeds the narrative that he’s an outsider using Ohio as a stepping stone
Summary: What This Race Comes Down To
| Factor | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Grassroots energy & volunteers | Acton |
| High-profile bipartisan endorsements (Celeste) | Acton |
| Visible presence in communities | Acton |
| TV ad spending / name recognition | Ramaswamy |
| Business success narrative | Ramaswamy |
| Message discipline (tax cuts) | Ramaswamy |
The Big Question: Can people power beat big money and TV ads in 2026 Ohio?
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. Why does a former governor from the 1980s matter in 2026?
Richard Celeste is a respected elder statesman in Ohio politics. His bipartisan credentials (he worked with Republicans to save depositors in the 1985 banking crisis) give him credibility. When he spends his summer at county fairs for Acton, it signals serious Democratic enthusiasm – and he’s seeing Republican-leaning voters show up.
2. What’s a "ground game" vs. an "air war"?
- Ground game = Knocking on doors, attending fairs, talking to voters in person, yard signs, volunteers. It’s slow but builds trust.
- Air war = TV ads, digital ads, mailers. It’s fast and reaches many people but can feel impersonal or negative.
3. Is Ohio a high-tax state?
Not really. Compared to other states, Ohio’s overall tax burden is middle-of-the-pack. The bigger pain point for voters is property taxes (which fund schools) and gas prices – things a governor can influence but not fully control.
4. Why did Ramaswamy move his company to Dallas?
Business reasons (Texas has no state income tax, different regulatory environment). But politically, it hurts his "I’ll bring jobs to Ohio" message because he literally took jobs out of Ohio.
5. Can a doctor with no executive experience run a state?
Acton has executive experience – she ran the Ohio Department of Health (a massive state agency) during COVID-19 under Gov. DeWine. That’s real crisis-management experience, even if she wasn’t the top elected official.
Final Thought
"TV ads can’t muster that kind of enthusiasm. Celeste is walking his talk. So, likewise, are Acton’s other enthusiastic volunteers; They’re motivated by what they see around them in Ohio – not on TV."
— Thomas Suddes
This article is based on reporting and commentary by Thomas Suddes, former legislative reporter for The Columbus Dispatch, writing from Ohio University.
