Amy Acton

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton toured the Youngstown Business Incubator and rallied in Liberty, stressing ties to Mahoning and Trumbull counties ahead of Election Day against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Acton has repeatedly addressed a Ramaswamy-backed ad featuring her estranged mother, calling her a liar and alleging mental health issues; Gov. Mike DeWine called it exploitative. Both candidates are closing with pitches on Ohio's affordability crisis, with Ramaswamy touting his business background and property-tax executive orders, and Acton emphasizing public-service experience, a working families tax cut, and school funding.

Ramaswamy has self-funded and outspent Acton nearly $80 million to $34 million overall, though Acton has outraised him recently; both have shattered Ohio's gubernatorial fundraising record, and neither has held elected office before. Democrats are banking on a late push, including a Cleveland rally with Barack Obama and expanded early voting, as prediction markets show Acton favored heading into Election Day.

Ahead of Ohio's U.S. Senate and governor races, prediction market activity has drawn scrutiny from political scientists and state lawmakers who argue betting on elections undermines public trust in democracy. Ohio State professor Nathaniel Swigger warns that large discrepancies between market-implied odds and public polling in the governor's race between Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy could fuel doubts about vote legitimacy if outcomes diverge from market expectations.

State Sen. Bill DeMora has introduced legislation to ban election wagering through prediction markets, noting most states already prohibit it. Kalshi, which bars politicians from trading and recently added transparency features, remains in a legal dispute with Ohio over state regulatory authority, while its advocacy arm defends prediction markets as more accurate than polling.

President Donald Trump made his third October campaign stop in Ohio, rallying supporters in Chillicothe ahead of the November 3 midterms. Joined by Sen. Bernie Moreno, Trump backed Sen. Jon Husted, who faces former Sen. Sherrod Brown in a tight special election for the seat JD Vance vacated, and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who faces Democrat Amy Acton. Trump criticized Democratic economic policy and touted Ohio data-center growth while urging turnout.

Democrats countered with their own events, including a Cincinnati rally featuring Acton and Brown, following a Cleveland appearance where former President Barack Obama campaigned alongside them. Early voting is already underway statewide.

President Trump holds a midterm rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, his third visit to the state this month, highlighting competitive governor and Senate races. Gov. Mike DeWine, a fellow Republican, had not announced plans to greet him, after Trump recently called DeWine "disloyal" and a "RINO" on Truth Social for urging gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to pull an attack ad targeting Democrat Amy Acton. DeWine kept his endorsement of Ramaswamy but criticized the ad. DeWine has greeted presidents of both parties at past Ohio visits, though he skipped Trump's two previous recent stops, once to attend a funeral. DeWine is term-limited and cannot run again.

The North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation has released updated designs for the 50-acre site around Cleveland's Browns stadium, which is set to be demolished. The plan creates a street-grid neighborhood with zones for housing, offices, hotels, and recreation, centered on a park where the football field now sits. Features include a Lake Erie Plaza for markets and events, a waterfront promenade linking the Great Lakes Science Center and Rock Hall, and roughly 7.5 acres of public green space. A previously proposed 10,000-seat venue was dropped. A related land bridge connecting downtown to the lakefront was also updated, narrowing from 100 to 60 feet wide, with construction expected to begin in 2027.

Barack Obama campaigned in Cleveland on Oct. 24 for Ohio Democrats Amy Acton (governor) and Sherrod Brown (U.S. Senate) ahead of the 2026 midterms. His remarks on civic decency and criticism of Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew praise from commentators like Aaron Rupar, Sarah Posner and Robert Reich, who urged wide sharing of the speech. Obama also condemned a Vivek Ramaswamy ad attacking Acton's family.

A separate line comparing Trump's White House redecoration to a "Cheesecake Factory" drew sharper reaction, with critics like Scott Jennings and Steve Krakauer calling it condescending, while Nate Silver and James Surowiecki defended the joke.

Ohio's Nov. 3 ballot features a high-profile governor's race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, Ohio's former pandemic-era health director, in a contest that could end two decades of GOP control. Republican Sen. Jon Husted faces former Sen. Sherrod Brown in a toss-up race with national implications for Senate control. Voters will also decide Issue 3, which would enshrine Ohio's photo ID voting requirement in the state constitution, plus races for attorney general, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and state supreme court seats.

Locally, Columbus voters weigh two competing city charter amendments (Issues 8 and 9) that would reshape how City Council members are elected, while Franklin County-area communities decide school levies, bond issues and charter changes.