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Governor

Ohio
Statewide

Election day: November 3, 2026

Meet Ohio's three printed governor tickets, including their lieutenant-governor running mates.

The Stated Record analysis: Lean Republican

Updated September 3, 2026

Who is running?

Printed ballot candidates

  • Amy ActonDemocraticLt. governor: David Pepper
  • Don KissickLibertarianLt. governor: James L. Mills
  • Vivek RamaswamyRepublicanLt. governor: Robert A. McColley

Declared write-in tickets are listed separately by the election authority.

Source: Franklin County Board of Elections general candidate list

Checked September 2, 2026

Voter guide

The candidates, side by side

Background comes from government or official office records, and from the campaign's own biography where the bullet says so. Goals are summarized from each campaign's own platform page and stay attributed to the campaign. The record lines are official votes, sponsorships, and filings with the government source attached. Money is shown as filed, by the type the FEC records for the contributing committee, and is not evidence of why any position was taken. Money rows are itemized receipts from political committees; transfers from joint fundraising committees and the conduit entries for earmarked individual contributions sit on their own rows and are not additive with the rest; other memo entries, reimbursements, and receipts from organizations that are not political committees are excluded; each candidate's note gives the filing window and the reconciliation to the FEC summary.

Amy Acton

Background

What they say they want to do

What the official record shows

Campaign money from other committees, by type

Governor candidates file with the Ohio Secretary of State. We have not added those filings yet. Ohio Secretary of State, Ohio Legislative Service Commission

Don Kissick

Background

What they say they want to do

What the official record shows

He has not held public office, so there is no official record of his to list. People for Don Kissick and James Mills

Campaign money from other committees, by type

Governor candidates file with the Ohio Secretary of State. We have not added those filings yet. Ohio Secretary of State, Ohio Legislative Service Commission

Vivek Ramaswamy

Background

What they say they want to do

What the official record shows

He has never held public office, so there is no official record of his own to list. The cards below cover his running mate's record where the campaign claims it. Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

Campaign money from other committees, by type

Governor candidates file with the Ohio Secretary of State. We have not added those filings yet. Ohio Secretary of State, Ohio Legislative Service Commission

Race outlook

How election analysts rate this race

Categories are ordered judgments, not win probabilities.

The Stated Record analysisLean Republican

Based on 2 verified rating sources. 1 stale or missing rating was excluded.

  • Cook Political ReportLean R

    Cook Political Report assessed this Aug 27, 2026; checked Sep 3, 2026.

  • Inside ElectionsLean Republican · stale

    Inside Elections assessed this Jun 25, 2026; checked Sep 3, 2026. Stale ratings are shown for transparency but excluded from our synthesis.

  • Sabato's Crystal BallLeans Republican

    Sabato's Crystal Ball assessed this Sep 3, 2026; checked Sep 3, 2026.

Our synthesis uses the median-style ordinal rule described in Methodology. It is our analysis, not another independent rating.

What to know

The race in context

The available local report examines campaign-ad claims. Its accusation and background details require claim-by-claim editorial review before publication.

Candidate records

The field, without the campaign gloss

Current public roles come from government sources. Campaign-finance IDs come from the FEC.

Profile links show what is public now, not a complete archive. Each link was confirmed through the campaign site unless a note says otherwise. Individual social posts enter the evidence record only with a post URL, date, context, and review note.

Issue comparison

What each campaign says

These are attributed platform positions, not promises The Stated Record has verified or endorsed.

Property taxes

Amy Acton

Would expand the homestead exemption so seniors with household incomes up to $50,000 qualify, and give homeowners a rebate of up to $1,000 when their property tax bill rises more than 4% in a year.

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

Don Kissick

Supports the proposed amendment to end property taxes, with local funding based on consumption instead.

Source: People for Don Kissick and James Mills

Vivek Ramaswamy

Would roll property taxes back to where they were before the end of the pandemic, leaving new construction out and honoring existing debt. Under his data center plan, the centers' property taxes would fund rebates for nearby homeowners.

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

Data centers

Amy Acton

Supports a conditional pause on data centers: they must pay all their own utility costs, be built with union labor, disclose who is behind them, meet environmental standards, and go on brownfields rather than farms.

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

Don Kissick

Calls data centers part of a growing surveillance system, and says they use large amounts of power and water, take farmland, and get tax breaks while residents pay more for utilities. The page names no specific policy.

Source: People for Don Kissick and James Mills

Vivek Ramaswamy

A data center could be built only if nearby homes get free electricity and lower property taxes and the center meets air and water rules. He would pause new data center approvals by executive order on his first day until a law is passed.

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

Energy bills

Amy Acton

Would appoint utility regulators who put ratepayers first, restore the consumer counsel's budget, and bring back the energy efficiency and renewable energy programs cut under House Bill 6.

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper, Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

Don Kissick

No position on energy supply or power bills is stated beyond his data center section.

Source: People for Don Kissick and James Mills

Vivek Ramaswamy

Would expand natural gas and new energy technology and speed up permits for energy projects to lower electric bills.

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

Schools

Amy Acton

Would fund public schools under the Fair School Funding Plan, reform the school voucher system, and provide free school breakfast and lunch.

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

Don Kissick

No position on schools is stated on his issues page.

Source: People for Don Kissick and James Mills

Vivek Ramaswamy

Would raise standards in 3rd-grade reading, 8th-grade math and 12th-grade civics, give parents more choice, pay the best teachers more, and expand career-technical education.

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

Ethics and corruption

Amy Acton

Would issue anti-corruption executive orders on day one, bar state regulators from working for companies they regulated for three years, and make state contractors disclose political giving.

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

Don Kissick

Would bar legislators from becoming lobbyists for five years after leaving office and put state contracts and budgets in a searchable public database.

Source: People for Don Kissick and James Mills

Vivek Ramaswamy

No ethics or anti-corruption plan is stated in his plan, which calls for cutting government waste and red tape. A separate May 2026 plan targets Medicaid fraud by providers.

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

Words and record

Where statements meet official action

The number of cards varies with what each candidate's official record supports, and every card carries the same required parts: what they say, what the official record shows, one label from the fixed list, and its limit. Each card is labeled narrowly, by rule. A single vote, sponsorship, or filing can match one claim without proving a candidate's whole record, and a card never says why someone did something.

Amy Acton

COVID-19: schools and reopening

No verdict

What they say

Her campaign says her pandemic leadership saved lives and helped Ohio's economy and schools open earlier than other states.

“helped Ohio’s economy and schools open earlier than other states”

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

What the record shows

As health director she signed the order closing school buildings to students from March 17, 2020, and the stay-at-home order of March 22. On April 20 the governor said schools would stay closed for the rest of the school year. On April 30 she signed the Stay Safe Ohio order, which let businesses reopen in stages. She stepped down on June 11, 2020.

Sources: Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Health, Office of the Governor of Ohio, Ohio Department of Health, Office of the Governor of Ohio, Office of the Governor of Ohio

Why there is no verdict here

No official record compares Ohio's reopening with other states or counts lives saved, so the claim can't be settled here.

Sources: Office of the Governor of Ohio, Ohio Department of Health

Limit: These orders came with Governor DeWine, who announced most of them. The record does not show her share of each decision.

Amy Acton

Opioid settlement

No verdict

What they say

Her campaign says that as health director she worked with both parties to hold drug companies accountable for the opioid epidemic and shape a historic settlement that funds addiction recovery.

“hold the big drug companies accountable for the opioid epidemic and shape a historic settlement to fund addiction recovery programs”

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

What the record shows

Ohio's OneOhio plan for sharing opioid settlement money came together while she was director; the attorney general said in March 2020 that local leaders had signed on. The governor's office says it built the plan with the attorney general and local leaders. The first settlement payments reached local governments in July 2022.

Sources: Ohio Attorney General, Office of the Governor of Ohio, Office of the Governor of Ohio

Why there is no verdict here

The official records we read don't say what part the health director played, so her role can't be settled here.

Sources: Ohio Attorney General, Office of the Governor of Ohio

Limit: An absence from these releases is not evidence she had no part. Health department records from 2019 and 2020 could settle it.

Amy Acton

Running mate David Pepper: county spending

Matches stated record claim

What they say

The campaign says that as a Hamilton County commissioner, Pepper led a fiscal turnaround that cut county spending by $60 million.

“cutting spending by $60 million”

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

What the record shows

The county's general fund budget fell from $271.6 million in 2008 to $239.4 million in 2009 and $211.7 million in 2010, a cut of $59.9 million. Pepper sat on the three-member board for all three, and was its president when the 2010 budget passed in October 2009.

Sources: Hamilton County, Ohio, Hamilton County, Ohio, Hamilton County, Ohio

Limit: The 2008 starting point was itself a $20.4 million rise, approved while he sat on the board. These are budgets, not final spending.

Amy Acton

Running mate David Pepper: county property tax rate

No verdict

What they say

The campaign says Pepper held the line on property taxes as a county commissioner and cut the county's rate outright in his final year.

“held the line on property taxes, reducing the county’s rate outright in his final year”

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

What the record shows

The county auditor lists the county's property tax rate at 20.18 mills for tax year 2006. In his years on the board, 2007 to 2010, it was 20.56, 20.63, 20.48 and 20.48. The rises came with levy increases voters approved: mental health and senior services in 2007, the zoo in 2008. The 2009 fall came when a smaller levy replaced the expiring Drake levy.

Sources: Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County, Ohio, Hamilton County, Ohio, Hamilton County, Ohio

Why there is no verdict here

By tax year, the rate rose in his first two years, fell in his third and was flat in his last. Taxes are paid a year later, so the fall reached bills in 2010, his last year. "Held the line" depends on which years you count.

Sources: Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor

Limit: These are full voted rates. Voters approved each levy change; we did not check who put each levy on the ballot.

Amy Acton

Running mate David Pepper: Cincinnati property tax rate

Matches stated record claim

What they say

The campaign says Pepper cut Cincinnati's property tax rate every year he served on city council.

“reducing the property tax rate every year he served”

Source: Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper

What the record shows

City reports show him on council for two two-year terms, the second in 2004 and 2005. The county auditor lists Cincinnati's property tax rate at 10.76 mills for tax year 2001, then 10.63, 10.36, 10.34 and 10.19 for tax years 2002 to 2005. It fell each of those years.

Sources: City of Cincinnati, City of Cincinnati, City of Cincinnati, City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor, Hamilton County Auditor

Limit: The rate sheets give the city's total rate, not what each part pays for. Council sets the rate; one member does not.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Running mate Rob McColley: Senate president

Matches stated record claim

What they say

The campaign says McColley was unanimously elected president of the Ohio Senate in January 2025.

“Rob was unanimously elected President of the Ohio Senate in January 2025”

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

What the record shows ·

The Senate Journal for January 6, 2025 records his election as president, 31 votes to none.

Sources: Ohio Senate

Limit: No senator voted against him. He is not listed as voting on his own election.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Running mate Rob McColley: limits on health orders

Matches stated direction

What they say

The campaign says McColley's record includes making sure Ohio never again repeats the overreach of the COVID-era shutdowns.

“ensuring Ohio never again repeats the overreach of the COVID-era shutdowns”

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

What the record shows ·

McColley was one of two sponsors of Senate Bill 22 in 2021. It lets lawmakers cancel health department orders and end a governor's emergency, which now lasts no more than 90 days unless they extend it. The governor vetoed it; McColley voted to override the veto on March 24, 2021, and it took effect June 23, 2021. A 2022 appeals court ruling upheld the dismissal of a suit against the law, for lack of standing.

Sources: Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals

Limit: The law gives lawmakers power over future health orders. Whether it prevents a future shutdown is a prediction no record settles. The campaign's line also names Acton; that part is out of scope.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Running mate Rob McColley: red tape

Matches stated direction

What they say

The campaign says McColley's record includes reducing government red tape.

“reducing government red tape”

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

What the record shows ·

McColley was the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 9, signed March 9, 2022. It orders state agencies to cut the restrictions in their rules by 30% by June 30, 2025. He voted for it in the Senate. The legislature's rule review committee reported in December 2025 that 27 of 28 agencies met that target; the EPA was at 22.70%.

Sources: Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio General Assembly, Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review

Limit: The law counts restrictions in rules, not whole rules. We did not check whether the EPA later reached 30%.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Running mate Rob McColley: taxes

Matches stated direction

What they say

The campaign says McColley's record includes cutting taxes.

“His strong conservative record includes cutting taxes”

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

What the record shows ·

As Senate president he voted for the 2025 state budget, House Bill 96, on June 11 and June 25, 2025. It cut the top state income tax rate from 3.5% to 3.125% for 2025 and set a single 2.75% rate from 2026.

Sources: Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio Legislative Service Commission

Limit: The budget did many other things; this card looks only at its income tax rates. He did not sponsor it.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Running mate Rob McColley: income tax rates

Matches stated direction

What they say

The campaign's plan says it would phase out the state income tax, starting with the tax on capital gains.

“Phase out the state income tax—starting with eliminating capital gains taxes—so every Ohioan keeps more of what they earn”

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

What the record shows ·

McColley voted for the 2023 state budget, House Bill 33, on June 30, 2023. It cut the top state income tax rate from 3.99% to 3.75% for 2023, then to 3.5% from 2024, when four rates became two.

Sources: Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Legislative Service Commission

Limit: This is his running mate's record; Ramaswamy has never held office. A lower rate is not an end to the tax, and the budget did many other things.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Running mate Rob McColley: charges on power bills

Matches stated direction

What they say

The campaign's plan says it would expand natural gas and new energy technology to lower electric bills.

“Expand natural gas and deploy innovative energy technologies to strengthen Ohio’s energy supply and reduce electric bills for every family”

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

What the record shows ·

McColley voted against House Bill 6 in the Senate on July 17, 2019. It added a monthly charge to power bills for nuclear plants, and a charge on every utility's customers through 2030 for plants owned by a company that utilities formed before 1960. It also cut the state's renewable energy and energy efficiency requirements for utilities. He cosponsored House Bill 128 and voted for it on March 24, 2021. It repealed parts of House Bill 6, limited its credit payments to solar and provided refunds to customers. He cosponsored House Bill 15 and voted for it on April 30, 2025. It ended the charge for the older plants from August 14, 2025.

Sources: Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System)

Limit: This is his running mate's record; Ramaswamy has never held office. These laws did other things too, and we did not measure what they did to bills. The card does not test the plan's natural gas goal.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Running mate Rob McColley: school choice and reading

Matches stated direction

What they say

The campaign's plan calls for higher academic standards with a focus on 3rd-grade reading, and more choice for parents over where their children learn.

“Raise academic standards with a focus on 3rd-grade literacy ... Empower parents with transparency and meaningful choices over where and how their children learn”

Source: Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio

What the record shows ·

McColley voted for the 2023 state budget, House Bill 33, on June 30, 2023. It opened the income-based EdChoice private school scholarship to students at any family income; before, the limit was 250% of the federal poverty level. It also required schools to use reading materials aligned with the science of reading from the 2024-25 school year, and barred the three-cueing method in pre-K to grade 5, with waivers for some students. The same budget let a parent, after talking with the reading teacher and principal, have a third grader promoted to fourth grade whether or not the child reads at grade level. The law before it had no such parent request.

Sources: Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System), Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Legislative Service Commission, Ohio Legislative Service Commission

Limit: This is his running mate's record; Ramaswamy has never held office. The budget did many other things; this card looks only at school choice and reading.

Chronology

How the field took shape

  1. Acton closes schools

    As health director, Acton orders school buildings closed to students from March 17.

    Source: Ohio Department of Health, Office of the Governor of Ohio

  2. Acton signs reopening order

    Acton's Stay Safe Ohio order replaces stay-at-home and lets businesses reopen in stages.

    Source: Ohio Department of Health

  3. Acton steps down

    Acton leaves the health department to advise the governor.

    Source: Office of the Governor of Ohio

  4. Health-order limits become law over a veto

    The legislature overrides the governor's veto of Senate Bill 22, sponsored by McColley.

    Source: Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System)

  5. McColley becomes Senate president

    The Ohio Senate elects McColley president, 31 to 0.

    Source: Ohio Senate

  6. Three tickets file

    Acton and Pepper, Ramaswamy and McColley, and Kissick and Mills file for governor and lieutenant governor.

    Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

  7. Primary election

    Acton, Ramaswamy and Kissick win their party primaries for governor; Acton runs unopposed.

    Source: Franklin County Board of Elections, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

  8. Write-in tickets file

    Four write-in tickets file for governor by the August 24 deadline.

    Source: Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, Franklin County Board of Elections

Open the source drawer92 source records, reviewed Sep 23, 2026
  1. official election record
    Candidate list, November 3, 2026 general election

    Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. Lists three governor tickets, each filed February 4, 2026 and valid: Acton and Pepper (Democratic), Ramaswamy and McColley (Republican), Kissick and Mills (Libertarian). Four write-in tickets filed August 24, 2026. Not ballot order. sha256 5eaa1507f117fb441da88983f85e9495ae11e86c8c4d2670364773c70eb31df0. The Secretary of State's site shows a security check to automated readers, so a county list is used.

  2. official election record
    Official results, May 5, 2026 primary, Franklin County only

    Franklin County Board of Elections. Franklin County's official count, not the statewide total. Governor: Acton 118,223, unopposed; Ramaswamy 40,190, Casey Putsch 7,236, a withdrawn ticket 2,262; Kissick 736, write-ins 140. The Secretary of State's statewide results show a security check to automated readers. sha256 74e32aede45c396fa30bf33aa60dc23886fd8d4c3a92f379488a49ed62ccdb73.

  3. official election record
    2026 election schedule

    Franklin County Board of Elections. The write-in filing deadline for the November 3 general election is 4:00 p.m., August 24, 2026. Revised May 28, 2026. sha256 dfeb41450e364f9f291a2a2ae332a3762c5da0475cad43cb9ee6d69ee13507ed.

  4. candidate statement
    Campaign home page

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Footer reads "Paid for by Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper". The site's /twitter, /facebook and /instagram links redirect to the amyactonoh accounts.

  5. candidate statement
    Meet Amy

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Her biography, including her claims about her time as health director.

  6. candidate statement
    Meet David

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Running mate David Pepper's biography, including claims about his county and city council record.

  7. candidate statement
    ActOn Lowering Costs: Amy's Affordability Agenda

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Tax credits, health costs, energy bills and wage theft.

  8. candidate statement
    Lowering the Cost of Health Care

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts.

  9. candidate statement
    Property Tax Relief

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts.

  10. candidate statement
    Data Centers

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Its lines about her opponent are out of scope here.

  11. candidate statement
    Lowering Energy Costs

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts.

  12. candidate statement
    Improving Ohio's Education

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts.

  13. candidate statement
    Cleaning Up Corruption

    Ohioans for Amy Acton and David Pepper. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts.

  14. candidate statement
    Campaign home page

    People for Don Kissick and James Mills. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Footer reads "Paid for by People for Don Kissick and James Mills" and links his X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts.

  15. candidate statement
    About Don & James

    People for Don Kissick and James Mills. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Biographies of Kissick and his running mate, James Mills. Neither describes a public office held.

  16. candidate statement
    On the Issues

    People for Don Kissick and James Mills. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Headings: data centers, license-plate cameras, property taxes, corruption, economic affordability, personal dignity. The site's press releases page carried no releases when read.

  17. candidate statement
    Campaign home page

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Footer reads "Paid for by Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio" and links his X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts.

  18. candidate statement
    Meet Vivek

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. His biography. It describes no public office he has held.

  19. candidate statement
    Meet Rob

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Running mate Rob McColley's biography, including the ticket's claims about his record. Its line about Acton is out of scope here.

  20. candidate statement
    The Plan

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Taxes, energy, schools, crime, and his data center pledge (reprinted from a Columbus Dispatch op-ed of August 6).

  21. candidate statement
    Vivek and Ohio GOP Leaders Unveil Gas Tax Relief Plan

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Listed on the site's home page under September 21, 2026.

  22. candidate statement
    Vivek's Plan for Historic Property Tax Rollbacks

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. Linked from The Plan page.

  23. candidate statement
    Vivek Ramaswamy Announces Plan to Crush Medicaid Waste, Fraud and Abuse

    Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for Ohio. Campaign-controlled source. Positions and claims are attributed to the campaign, not independently verified facts. A press release on fraud by Medicaid providers. It is not an ethics plan for officials.

  24. official office record
    2019 Annual Report

    Ohio Department of Health. Lists Amy Acton as director; her letter says she was appointed director of health in early 2019. sha256 86047b019648da75e0de3d5a159ca5e69b38530995d09f94711527a3ba104e30.

  25. official office record
    Governor DeWine Provides COVID-19 Update

    Office of the Governor of Ohio. Attaches the health department's order closing all K-12 schools.

  26. official office record
    Director's Order: closure of all K-12 schools

    Ohio Department of Health. Issued by Director Amy Acton. Closes school buildings to students from 12:01 a.m. March 17 to April 3, 2020. A scanned PDF with no text layer; read by OCR. sha256 989933e2b848dae6221f83f60f2f3068ea2c61ec570c2a6def87fd0425eccb1c.

  27. official office record
    Director's Stay at Home Order

    Ohio Department of Health. Issued and signed by Director Amy Acton, dated March 22, 2020, effective 11:59 p.m. March 23. sha256 061c7da2016399f7490f2ca6cdd7e20a70d67258f8576c65b628ea6eb5590f8d. The copies once at coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/publicorders/ now return the site's home page.

  28. official office record
    K-12 Schools to Remain Closed, Minority Health Strike Force, Data Collection, Private Lab Testing

    Office of the Governor of Ohio. The governor announces that K-12 schools will stay closed for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.

  29. official office record
    Governor DeWine Announces 'Stay Safe Ohio Order'

    Office of the Governor of Ohio. The health department's Stay Safe Ohio order replaces the stay-at-home order and folds in the business reopenings of the Responsible RestartOhio plan. The page is dated May 1, 2020.

  30. official office record
    COVID-19 Update: ... New Role for Dr. Acton ...

    Office of the Governor of Ohio. Acton steps down as health department director and becomes the governor's chief health advisor, effective the end of that day.

  31. official office record
    Yost Issues Statement on OneOhio Agreement

    Ohio Attorney General. The attorney general says Ohio's local leaders have signed on to OneOhio. Acton is not named.

  32. official office record
    Governor DeWine Announces OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board Appointments

    Office of the Governor of Ohio. Says the governor's office worked with the attorney general's office and local leaders to create the OneOhio plan. Acton is not named.

  33. official office record
    Governor DeWine Announces Local Government Payments from National Opioid Settlement Begin

    Office of the Governor of Ohio. First payments to local governments from the OneOhio settlement with national opioid distributors.

  34. official office record
    2010 Budget in Brief

    Hamilton County, Ohio. The county's own budget summary, listing David Pepper as president of the Board of County Commissioners. Hosted on the county's website vendor (revize). sha256 ad999fe36e828077a443ad1f2e69d0a5aca624626523eee5ccdab13c620a52e9.

  35. official office record
    2007 Budget in Brief

    Hamilton County, Ohio. Lists Todd Portune as commission president and David Pepper as vice president, so 2007 was his first year on the board. sha256 29d37fa59d381fe12116b6d6f2cb5d8ed1540cc414fddefe9e05666b134fb99c.

  36. official office record
    2008 Budget in Brief

    Hamilton County, Ohio. Sets the 2008 general fund budget at $271.6 million, up $20.4 million from 2007. Lists Todd Portune as commission president and David Pepper as vice president. sha256 9821b8924e41acc557ee80315a47757f28683cf763f05d79b60695a3bdd92c67.

  37. official office record
    2009 Budget in Brief

    Hamilton County, Ohio. Sets the 2009 general fund budget at $239.4 million, down $32.2 million from 2008. Lists David Pepper as commission president for 2009. sha256 0769b2e51740296cc632b51c8ebb2da224e424f20f208bc041cdf0c59502362e.

  38. official office record
    2011 Budget in Brief

    Hamilton County, Ohio. Lists the 2011 board as Greg Hartmann, Chris Monzel and Todd Portune, so 2010 was Pepper's last year on the board. sha256 4331ae99e05924d3d5344ac8a17d064b98d5ec9c6205f3baf3583d033dffa1be.

  39. official office record
    Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2002

    City of Cincinnati. Dated May 30, 2003. Its list of city officials has David Pepper on council in his first term. sha256 3eb79b0bb4ed47b447a09eb67c6f1c89890d58a9137379db1fca8ec8292ecd7b.

  40. official office record
    Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2003

    City of Cincinnati. Dated June 15, 2004. The officials list has Pepper in his second term. sha256 1897f099fb93ffb81c4feeb10bea209c50c969489e11e9084de966f679d5386c.

  41. official office record
    Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2004

    City of Cincinnati. Dated June 15, 2005. Council members serve two-year terms, and the officials list has Pepper in his second term. sha256 d52e7e9f4b20a3b6e7fe99f1885f1afd306a533ad03f2fa3137839d2e7098445.

  42. official office record
    Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, 2005

    City of Cincinnati. Dated June 26, 2006. The officials list shows the new council under Mayor Mark Mallory; Pepper is not on it. sha256 84e381110db0323d33c17dd45c7d336b43c0e695af3606df5a54ceab0587094b.

  43. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2001 (paid in 2002)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 21.47, city 10.76. sha256 f590cc14f7cdd4c0a5a801cbe74ce5daa3d1b726cafe924fbb221e3f6ff2a12e.

  44. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2002 (paid in 2003)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 21.87, city 10.63. A scan with a rough text layer. sha256 7df685ddfb8ea6feb739d517abe93131b373640166175a187e86303b68142541.

  45. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2003 (paid in 2004)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 21.51, city 10.36. sha256 712b254f05b771b0dcf777b1131bcaecf82b5faddb087eeddcb217c6c0bbdeea.

  46. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2004 (paid in 2005)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 21.06, city 10.34. sha256 bb74e594f5222f7ffc347ef336f95caed4195a9566fc7183f876644cbb269543.

  47. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2005 (paid in 2006)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.81, city 10.19. sha256 261b67e7c4ca295ea755115d911482495024c810ea59978b26fe364b76316006.

  48. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2006 (paid in 2007)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.18, city 9.93. sha256 79e037d7d47cf2f27e0b226c048322aa4078f328235fc7541671aecc1f134825.

  49. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2007 (paid in 2008)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.56, city 9.89. sha256 040c869aebd59fe83dfb5c51e54d9ef3b1ea1eae0800140e71fee254e18059e1.

  50. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2008 (paid in 2009)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.63, city 9.89. sha256 5dc4d8d3aebee106a4d50a6752061203a8c1c8ed782b8cc388d12fbef1ec6d9c.

  51. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2009 (paid in 2010)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 20.48, city 9.82. sha256 0d48131afcd02dc22c8187bdec745c1b7c8e9be2b77b20bf297266df99719fce.

  52. official office record
    Rates of taxation, tax year 2010 (paid in 2011)

    Hamilton County Auditor. The auditor's rate sheet: each tax district's property tax rates, in mills. Cincinnati (district 001): county 19.45 plus 1.03 for the park district, now listed apart (20.48 together), city 10.07. sha256 e850645d41bf12c7800d59d4145568d5be4c7aecd74421bdfb6adf3164724851.

  53. official office record
    Tax year 2007 levy summary

    Hamilton County Auditor. Levies voters decided in 2007. County: mental health renewed with a 0.25-mill increase and senior services with a 0.13-mill increase, both November 6, 2007. Together 0.38 mills, the county rate's rise that year. sha256 12df91a5826607c7dbfc2b6a42822bd39658d1d4b53bc2863b0ffea9e5e933db.

  54. official office record
    Tax year 2008 levy summary

    Hamilton County Auditor. County: the zoo levy renewed with a 0.06-mill increase, March 4, 2008. sha256 234195cc42bcf67c3f5cb2a29f7a9ac18b4c5d21c147cd9010a0b42e5f242431.

  55. official office record
    Tax year 2009 levy summary

    Hamilton County Auditor. County, November 3, 2009: developmental disabilities renewed with a 0.51-mill increase, the museum center renewed 0.02 mills lower, and a new 0.34-mill Family Services & Treatment levy replaced the Drake levy, which expired at the end of 2009. The new levy's estimated cost is $10.09 per $100,000 of value, against $20.73 for the Drake levy in 2009. sha256 93ce63d1cfbd201107824877e447115476c045450b3e684fe29b79969d0b4b60.

  56. official office record
    Director's Stay Safe Ohio Order

    Ohio Department of Health. Issued and signed by Director Amy Acton on April 30, 2020, effective 11:59 p.m. that day. Its subtitle calls it an order that reopens businesses, with exceptions. The state's own link now returns the health department's home page and no other official copy was found, so this is the Internet Archive's copy of May 1, 2020. A scanned PDF, read by OCR. sha256 dd5c9f0403fdeb66dd4f706778879902069ad350a1a200f137e32c9008737419.

  57. fec filing
    Candidate overview: Ramaswamy, Vivek (P40011082)

    Federal Election Commission. Registered as a Republican candidate for president, 2024 election.

  58. fec filing
    Candidate overview: Kissick, Donald C. (S4OH00259)

    Federal Election Commission. Registered as a Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate from Ohio, 2024 election.

  59. official election record
    2024 Congressional Candidates on the General Election Ballots

    Federal Election Commission. The FEC's list of candidates on the November 5, 2024 ballot, from state election offices. Ohio, U.S. Senate: Kissick, Donald C. (LIB), with Brown and Moreno. The list is marked "Subject to Change". sha256 7945c56c933e5ee390bc26de081bb3e58d20a9f958400fbae3fcb49ff5dfd997.

  60. fec filing
    Candidate overview: Kissick, Donald Charles (H0OH04077)

    Federal Election Commission. Registered as a Libertarian candidate for the U.S. House from Ohio: the 4th district in 2010 and the 5th in 2018. The FEC's results reports show he was on the ballot both times.

  61. official election record
    Federal Elections 2010: Election Results for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House

    Federal Election Commission. Page 116: Kissick, Donald Charles (LIB), Ohio's 4th district, 7,708 votes (3.77%) in the November 2, 2010 general election. sha256 dd0ce354af9d654c05bbf6fc69687be60507be6cf3c56b8575634ec5ef0ac428.

  62. official election record
    Federal Elections 2018: Election Results for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House

    Federal Election Commission. Kissick, Don (LIB), Ohio's 5th district, 7,393 votes (2.61%) in the 2018 general election. sha256 6d7b65418458f40cb4d301f04034e79a6938344097c6d28ec418d676af757ab2.

  63. official legislative record
    Senate Journal, Monday, January 6, 2025

    Ohio Senate. The Senate elects Rob McColley president, yeas 31, nays 0. sha256 f3ba9dfc2d079b329f96d0bd0f977ea9f11dfabf7cfa6dac310e61be70c2aaa2.

  64. official legislative record
    S.B. 22, 134th General Assembly: bill versions

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Establish legislative oversight over Governor's and health orders. Sponsors Terry Johnson and Rob McColley in every version; the enrolled version is effective June 23, 2021.

  65. official legislative record
    S.B. 22, 134th General Assembly: actions and roll calls

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Senate and House votes with member-level yeas and nays, including both chambers' veto overrides on March 24, 2021.

  66. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 101.36

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Lets the General Assembly rescind health department orders by concurrent resolution. Enacted by S.B. 22 of the 134th General Assembly, effective June 23, 2021.

  67. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 107.42

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Limits a governor's state of emergency to 90 days unless the General Assembly extends it. Enacted by S.B. 22 of the 134th General Assembly, effective June 23, 2021.

  68. official legislative record
    S.B. 9, 134th General Assembly: bill versions

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Reduce regulatory restrictions in administrative rules. Sponsors Rob McColley and Kristina Roegner; signed March 9, 2022, effective June 8, 2022.

  69. official legislative record
    S.B. 9, 134th General Assembly: actions and roll calls

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Senate and House votes with member-level yeas and nays.

  70. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 121.951

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Requires state agencies to cut regulatory restrictions by 30% by June 30, 2025. Enacted by S.B. 9 of the 134th General Assembly, effective June 8, 2022.

  71. official office record
    Cronin v. Governor of Ohio, 2022-Ohio-829

    Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals. A suit to stop S.B. 22 was dismissed for lack of standing; the appeals court affirmed on March 17, 2022. The court did not rule on whether the law is constitutional. sha256 153769bc943450ecadced2e4a9085ab33a5fcebdce1673c302e534d9806c3d91.

  72. official legislative record
    S.B. 9 Historical Report for Fiscal Year 2025

    Ohio General Assembly, Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. Dated December 15, 2025, with data as of June 30, 2025. Of 28 agencies, 27 cut their regulatory restrictions by at least 30%. The EPA was at 22.70% and said it would reach 30% by early 2026; that was not checked. The measure is restrictions in rules, not whole rules repealed. sha256 93d3c87152c8929afaefbc40ccfe190e224f9dc99d6a947656560e0a2d145f79.

  73. official legislative record
    H.B. 96, 136th General Assembly: actions and roll calls

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). The 2026-27 state operating budget. Senate passage June 11, 2025 and the conference report June 25, 2025, each 23-10, McColley voting yea.

  74. official legislative record
    H.B. 96, 136th General Assembly, as enrolled

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Enrolled text, about 30 MB. Section 5747.02 replaces the 2024 rate table (top rate 3.5%) with a 2025 table (top rate 3.125%) and a single 2.75% rate from 2026.

  75. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 5747.02

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. State income tax rates, as amended by H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly, effective September 30, 2025.

  76. official election record
    Campaign finance

    Ohio Secretary of State. Where Ohio's statewide candidates file their campaign finance reports. The page shows a security check to automated readers (HTTP 403), so it was not read by this desk; a person can open it in a browser.

  77. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 3517.11

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Campaign committees of candidates for statewide office file their finance statements with the Secretary of State.

  78. official legislative record
    H.B. 6, 133rd General Assembly: actions and roll calls

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Senate passage July 17, 2019, McColley voting nay.

  79. official legislative record
    H.B. 6, 133rd General Assembly, as enrolled

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Section 3706.46 sets a monthly charge on retail electric customers for the nuclear generation fund; section 4928.148 sets a charge through 2030 for a legacy generation resource. It also cut the renewable energy benchmark and capped the energy efficiency requirement at 17.5% cumulative savings.

  80. official legislative record
    H.B. 128, 134th General Assembly: bill versions

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Repeals parts of H.B. 6 and limits its credit payments to solar. Signed March 31, 2021. McColley is listed as a cosponsor of the enrolled version.

  81. official legislative record
    H.B. 128, 134th General Assembly: actions and roll calls

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Senate passage March 24, 2021, McColley voting yea.

  82. official legislative record
    H.B. 15, 136th General Assembly: bill versions

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Sponsor Rep. Klopfenstein; McColley is listed as a cosponsor of the enrolled version. Signed May 15, 2025, effective August 14, 2025.

  83. official legislative record
    H.B. 15, 136th General Assembly: actions and roll calls

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Senate passage April 30, 2025, McColley voting yea.

  84. official legislative record
    H.B. 15, 136th General Assembly, as enrolled

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). Repeals section 4928.148; Section 4 bars utilities from collecting the legacy generation resource charge from the act's effective date. Section 4928.01 defines that resource as plants owned by a corporation investor-owned utilities formed before 1960.

  85. official legislative record
    H.B. 33, 135th General Assembly: actions and roll calls

    Ohio General Assembly (Legislative Information System). The 2024-25 state operating budget. The Senate agreed to the conference report June 30, 2023, McColley voting yea.

  86. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 5747.02, version effective October 3, 2023

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. As amended by H.B. 33. Top rate 3.75% for 2023; from 2024, two rates, 2.75% and 3.5%.

  87. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 5747.02, version effective March 23, 2022

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. The version before H.B. 33: four rates, top rate 3.99%.

  88. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 3310.032

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Income-based EdChoice scholarship, as amended by H.B. 33, effective October 3, 2023. Eligibility no longer has an income limit.

  89. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 3310.032, version effective September 23, 2022

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. The version before H.B. 33: family income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, or a sibling with the scholarship.

  90. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 3313.6028, version effective October 3, 2023

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Enacted by H.B. 33. Reading curriculum aligned with the science of reading from 2024-25; three-cueing barred in pre-K to grade 5, with individual waivers.

  91. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 3313.608, version effective October 3, 2023

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Third Grade Reading Guarantee as amended by H.B. 33: adds promotion at a parent's request.

  92. official legislative record
    Ohio Revised Code 3313.608, version effective September 30, 2021

    Ohio Legislative Service Commission. The version before H.B. 33.

The details

Election facts. Original sources.

Election date
November 3, 2026
Launch rating
Cook Political Report: Toss Up; dated August 27, 2026
Ballot source updated
Official county list revised September 22, 2026; reviewed September 24, 2026.
Candidate field
Printed candidates checked against official election records.

Coverage

What this page includes, and what is not yet included.

As of Sep 26, 2026. Each area lists only what has passed its source check. How coverage works.

  • BallotIncluded

    3 printed candidates, checked September 2, 2026 against the official election record.

  • Race outlookPartial

    2 of 3 specialist ratings are current as of Sep 26, 2026. 1 stale rating stays visible with its date but is excluded from our analysis.

  • Reported contextNot yet

    The available local report examines campaign-ad claims. Its accusation and background details require claim-by-claim editorial review before publication.

  • Words and recordIncluded

    12 statement-to-action comparisons across 3 candidate records, each with a stated limitation.

  • Campaign financeNot yet

    No campaign-finance snapshot is published for this race yet.

  • PollingNot yet

    No published poll has been reviewed for this race yet.

No correction has been recorded for this race. Report an error.