Democrat Amy Acton has defeated Indian-origin Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio governor’s election, according to election projections. The result marks a major setback for President Donald Trump, who backed Ramaswamy in the closely watched race.
Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) projected Acton as the winner at around 10:30 pm local time on November 3. At the time of an early count, with nearly 75% of votes reported, Acton had secured 50.5% of the vote, or 1,885,828 votes. Ramaswamy was at 46.1%, with 1,722,372 votes. These figures reflected the count at that stage and were not the final totals.
Acton is set to become the first woman elected governor of Ohio, a historic milestone for the state. Her victory is particularly significant because Trump had won Ohio by around 12 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. The outcome therefore signals a notable shift in the state’s political contest.
Meanwhile, Democrat Annie Andrews has also been projected to win South Carolina’s Senate seat, defeating Republican Darline Graham, according to a media projection. The result is being seen as a major upset in a state that had not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998. Graham had been appointed to the seat following the death of her brother, Senator Lindsey Graham.
The overall balance of power in the US Senate remains a separate question. The latest projections and vote counts will need to be followed before drawing conclusions about which party will control the chamber.
Both races underline the importance of the 2026 midterm elections for the future of Trump’s political agenda.
