DeSantis Criticizes Ramaswamy After Ohio Loss

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Vivek Ramaswamy's background did not suit Ohio's working-class voters after Amy Acton won the state's governor's race.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Commentary

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a classical civic dome silhouetted against a flat Midwestern horizon, under overcast light. — Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio's governor's race, flipping the mansion after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized Ramaswamy's profile. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, criticized Vivek Ramaswamy after Democrat Amy Acton defeated him in Tuesday's Ohio governor's race. Acton flipped the governor's mansion and became the first Democrat to hold the Ohio governorship in about 15 years and the first woman elected to the post.

Why it matters

DeSantis's comments on Sage Steele's podcast point to a rift within Republican circles over candidate profiles and messaging in Ohio. The result also marks a Democratic gain in a state where Republicans had held the governorship for years.

Acton led Ramaswamy by around 8 points on Thursday afternoon according to Decision Desk HQ, and Ramaswamy's campaign spent $4 million on an ad featuring Acton's estranged mother calling her a "liar." The final certified margin of the race was not reported in the extraction.

The players

Ron DeSantis

Florida's Republican governor who previously challenged Ramaswamy for the 2024 presidential nomination and has been a prominent voice in the party.

Vivek Ramaswamy

Biotech entrepreneur and billionaire who ran for president in 2024 and lost the Ohio governor's race to Amy Acton.

Amy Acton

Democrat who won the Ohio governor's race, becoming the state's first woman elected governor and the first Democrat to hold the office in about 15 years.

The details

DeSantis made his comments during an interview on former ESPN host Sage Steele's podcast, saying Ramaswamy's tech background, work on an Alzheimer's drug, and support for bringing in foreign workers on visas did not suit Ohio's working-class voters. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and billionaire, had run for president against DeSantis in 2024 and was endorsed by President Trump and Vice President Vance.

Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2026: Acton defeats Ramaswamy in the Ohio governor's race.
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2026: DeSantis comments on Sage Steele's podcast.
Thursday afternoon, Nov. 6, 2026: Acton is reported to lead Ramaswamy by about 8 points.

Political Context

DeSantis and Ramaswamy competed directly in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, and DeSantis's comments extend that rivalry into the Ohio race. The result also underscores how Trump and Vance's endorsement of Ramaswamy did not carry the contest in a state Republicans had held for years.

The change in Ohio's governorship shifts the state's executive leadership and policy direction for the coming term, which will affect residents across the state. Voters in Ohio will see new executive priorities under Acton, who takes office after defeating a Republican candidate backed by President Trump.

The takeaway

The Ohio result shows that a candidate's endorsements and campaign spending do not guarantee victory in a statewide race. Readers following the outcome can track how Acton's administration approaches the issues that DeSantis said resonated with working-class voters.