Former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) has decided against a run for Ohio governor, leaving Dr. Amy Acton with a clear lane for the Democratic nomination.
“After careful consideration, much prayer and reflection, and after long conversations with my family, my closest friends and advisors, I’ve made the decision not to run for governor in 2026,” Ryan said in a statement.
Ryan, 52, spent more than 20 years representing the Youngstown region in Congress and previously ran for both president and U.S. Senate. Though he said last year he had no plans to seek office in 2026, he began taking a fresh look at a governor’s race in recent months.
Acton, the former state health director best known for leading Ohio’s early response to the COVID-19 pandemic, now stands as the leading Democratic contender with Ryan out of the picture. Ohio’s filing deadline isn’t until next February, but at this point, no other prominent Democrats have shown any interest in entering.
With the field taking shape, 2026 is on track to feature Acton against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, a past presidential hopeful who has President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Acton has been building a base of local and legislative endorsements, while Ramaswamy boasts support from the state party, influential unions, and the president.
OHIO GOP ENDORSES VIVEK RAMASWAMY FOR GOVERNOR IN BLOW TO DEWINE
Ramaswamy, a biotech executive and former co-chair of Trump’s DOGE initiative, locked down GOP support soon after launching his bid in February. His rapid rise pushed Attorney General Dave Yost out and discouraged a run from Gov. Mike DeWine’s preferred successor, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel. DeWine also helped shape the field by appointing former Lt. Gov. Jon Husted to Vice President JD Vance’s open Senate seat.
DeWine cannot run again due to term limits.
