Somali Community Backs Acton in Ohio Race
Democrat state Rep. Ismail Mohamed urges Columbus-area voters to back Democrat Amy Acton in Tuesday's gubernatorial election against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Islam
Somali immigrants in central Ohio are backing Democrat Amy Acton in the gubernatorial campaign, according to Democrat state Rep. Ismail Mohamed, who told supporters via video that the governor's race is the most important contest in Ohio. Acton faces Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Tuesday's election to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Mike DeWine.
Why it matters
Mohamed says the Somali community has at least 20 political representatives across the United States and points to Ilhan Omar as its federal representative. The push reflects the growing political weight of a community concentrated in the Columbus area, which has the second-largest Somali population in the country.
The Columbus area is home to the second-largest Somali community in the United States, behind Minneapolis, with nearly 70,000 Somali immigrants in central Ohio according to one estimate. The source does not confirm how many of these residents are registered to vote.
The players
Amy Acton
Amy Acton is the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor who previously served as the state's Department of Health Director during the early COVID-19 pandemic.
Vivek Ramaswamy
Vivek Ramaswamy is the Republican candidate for Ohio governor, a businessman and author who ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Ismail Mohamed
Ismail Mohamed is a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives who represents a Columbus-area district and has urged Somali voters to support Acton.
The details
Mohamed told supporters via video that Somali community members are in a group chat and care most about issues in Somalia, and he encouraged anyone in the Columbus area to vote and volunteer for Acton. Acton served as Ohio's Department of Health Director in early 2020 before resigning, claiming the demands of the job were too great.
Timeline
Early 2020: Acton served as Ohio's Department of Health Director and COVID czar before resigning.
January: The New York Times entered the Columbus area amid an ICE effort to crack down on illegal immigration, which the city's mayor called unwelcome.
Tuesday: Acton and Ramaswamy face off in the Ohio governor election.
Political Context
Mohamed frames the Somali community's support for Acton as part of a broader pattern of political engagement, pointing to at least 20 Somali political representatives nationwide and to Ilhan Omar as the community's federal voice. The source does not describe specific opposition arguments from Ramaswamy's campaign or other critics of the Somali community's involvement.
For Ohio voters, the governor's race on Tuesday determines who succeeds Mike DeWine, and the Somali community's mobilization in the Columbus area could shape turnout there. Residents in central Ohio may see more volunteer and get-out-the-vote activity ahead of the election.
The takeaway
Local organizing by immigrant communities can carry real weight in statewide races, and voters interested in this election should check the candidates' positions directly before Tuesday.
Further reading
Explore more on Islam coverage for context on the faith and community dimensions of this story.
